Jessica shows her CORE values through crisis

Jessica Anderson was visiting family in Revelstoke, B.C., when she realized she had missed a call from one of her assistant managers, Tanis Perdue. “She never calls when I’m off, so I knew something was wrong,” says Jessica, Front Store Manager at the Shoppers Drug Mart in Penticton, B.C.

When Jessica reached her, Tanis was fleeing her home in Faulder. She had just arrived from work when she saw a wildfire coming over the hill. She and her husband had about 10 minutes to gather their animals, hook up their travel trailer and leave. As they drove away, fire engulfed their home.

Soon, more members of Jessica’s team were affected as an evacuation order was put in place for Summerland, where many of them live. Jessica immediately offered her current home and the house her family had recently moved out of to anyone who needed somewhere to stay.

In total, Jessica and her husband, Patrick, welcomed 10 people, five cats and two dogs.

Back at the store, the team was also responding as the wildfire affected the wider community. Evacuees arrived in Penticton after leaving home with little notice, while customers searched for essentials, masks and air purifiers. The pharmacy supported displaced patients from Summerland, and prescription volumes more than doubled during the first week.

Jessica worked with the pharmacy and front store teams to adjust schedules and shift responsibilities as customer and patient needs changed. She made one thing clear to teammates who had been displaced: they did not need to worry about work. Some still chose to come in, finding work a welcome distraction during an uncertain time.

Associate-Owner Sungtaek “S.T.” Huh was overseas when the evacuation order came and unable to return quickly. By the time he checked in, Jessica was already welcoming team members into her home and helping keep the store steady.

“Jessica looks after the people she works with the way most of us look after our own family,” he says.

After the first week, some displaced team members were able to return home. Tanis stayed with Jessica for four weeks. She and her husband are now back on their property, living in their travel trailer and hoping to begin rebuilding their home in the spring next year.

“I am so grateful to Jess and Patrick for opening up their home to us after the fire,” says Tanis. “We knew that our house was gone but they made us feel welcome and loved. The road forward is going to be a long one but with people like Jessica and Patrick as friends it will be easier.”

For Jessica, what stands out is how everyone responded.

“Everyone came together and helped out however they could,” she says. “To me, that’s our culture and values in action, looking out for your co-workers and customers and supporting one another. It’s not only about how we show up for work, but how we show up for each other.”