Kathleen never set out to be the kind of pharmacist who “won awards.” She set out to be the kind of pharmacist who poked the bear, asked uncomfortable questions in staff meetings, and stayed up at night thinking about how to make the profession better…not just for herself, but for patients, students, and colleagues across Ontario. The kind who, when told to “play nice,” chose instead to play fair, speak up, and do the right thing. So when she was named the 2025 recipient of the Ontario Pharmacists Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award, she was surprised and deeply honoured.
Her path to pharmacy wasn’t exactly conventional. Kathleen began her post-secondary life in journalism at Carleton University, before realizing it wasn’t quite the fit she imagined. She ultimately graduated from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Pharmacy in 1984 and began her career doing locums across southwestern Ontario.
In 1986, she joined Sutherland’s Pharmacy in Hamilton. By 1992, she had purchased the business, on the very same day she learned she was pregnant. She would go on to raise four daughters while running a pharmacy full-time, becoming the kind of role model who didn’t just talk about work life harmony, but lived it. Her daughters, now independent adults working in fields as varied as planning, government, the trades, and the arts, grew up watching their mother work hard, advocate fiercely, and lead with purpose. She taught them, by example, that women can pursue big dreams, grow their own businesses, and raise families at the same time, even if it’s not easy.
Over the years, Kathleen’s pharmacy career has been rich with impact but not without its challenges. She’ll be the first to tell you she’s learned a lot the hard way. But at every turn, she’s stayed rooted in her core values: integrity, hard work, and an unwavering focus on patient care.
Professionally, Kathleen has always been ahead of the curve and unafraid of resistance. She was one of the earliest voices calling for a ban on tobacco sales in pharmacies, even testifying at a provincial standing committee. She chaired the Professional Practice Committee of the Hamilton Pharmacists Association in the 1990s, successfully pushing back against early mail-order pharmacy models. She also helped establish the first methadone clinic outside Toronto at a time when care for people with addiction was siloed and inaccessible. That model of pharmacist-led care has gone on to change countless lives, including many of the patients she still supports today.
When the COVID-19 vaccine rollout called on pharmacy professionals to step up, Kathleen didn’t wait to be asked. She spent her Sunday mornings leading training sessions for pharmacists across Ontario, helping hundreds of colleagues build their capacity to care for their communities. Her commitment to mentorship has extended far beyond the pandemic: she’s supported students from Mohawk College, mentored international graduates, and welcomed the next generation of professionals with generosity and candor.
Outside of her pharmacy, Kathleen has brought that same energy to her community. She has served on several boards and committees, including Catholic Family Services and the St. Leonard’s Society of Hamilton. She was part of a successful capital campaign to expand housing supports for young mothers and parenting teens. She’s also contributed to the development of pharmacy assistant education through her early work with Mohawk College’s advisory program.
And when she’s not doing all of that? She’s hiking, reading, and geocaching with her husband. She loves to explore new places, especially the ones off the beaten path, and she’s always got a book on the go, from beach reads to business texts.
Patients describe Kathleen as smart, thoughtful, and no-nonsense. Colleagues know her as someone who says what needs to be said, even when it’s uncomfortable. She’s not one to sugarcoat things, but she is deeply committed to listening, learning, and building a better future for pharmacy.
For Kathleen, pharmacy isn’t just a profession. It’s a calling, and a responsibility. She believes deeply in the potential of pharmacists to do more, be more, and lead more. She’s spent her career fighting for that vision.
And while this award may celebrate her career to date, it’s not a send-off. Kathleen has no intention of retiring. “My goal,” she says, “is to leave this place in a box”.