I  was honoured and humbled to have received the Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia’s Member of the Year Award a few weekends ago and wanted to comment on my experience at the ceremony.

My speech was blended, processed, and re-hashed in my head for the 3-hour lead up to the announcement. All I knew is that I had folks to thank, but didn’t know in which order or whether I could hold it together long enough to sound coherent.

In holding it together, I’ll admit that I failed a little.

My temptation, like many others before was to make excuses as to why it was just amazing to be nominated, or there are others more deserving. A mentor shut me down early on by saying, ‘This award is for you, but it’s also for us. We are recognizing contributions to the profession that impact us all, so say thank you, and get up there’.

Neville MacKay was the presenter/emcee for the evening and what a treat! Neville is a well-known personality on TV and radio, and somehow finds the time to run My Mother’s Bloomers, a floral services shop on Spring Garden Rd. His schtick (as he refers to it) is a mixture of comedy and inspiration. He will often demonstrate beauty, diversity and teamwork by weaving in floral creations on the fly. He kept everyone light. Even in moments of solemn reflection for a lost colleague, the venerable Larry Broadfield, he found a way to honour his legacy by cheering the crowd up in his spirit.

So the mini-bio was read, and then the video started. This video was shot earlier in the summer and featured interviews with a number of my own staff as well as staff from this year’s pharmacy of the year award-winning store. I had not seen the footage until that night, and days later, I’m still spinning from the kind words that were said. I’m truly grateful for everyone with whom I’ve had the pleasure to work. It was touching and heartfelt. With a nervous tremble, I shook Neville’s hand, and that of the outgoing association president.

A little side-note about speeches. I may like to talk too much, but that’s very different from the idea of giving a speech. Thinking this was going to be akin to graduation, where you stroll across a stage, receive a certificate and fade off the other side, my preparation was minimal. At least I had the foresight to keep my wine consumption during dinner to a reasonable level.

So start with a funny anecdote, that will buy some time, right? Neville, and his limited pharmaceutical knowledge had made an earlier crack about that ‘little blue pill’. I saw that as an opportunity to jump in with my story about counseling a gentleman with a new erectile dysfunction medication whilst holding a floppy, slinky-esque novelty pen. Certainly not a shining moment. Now onto the serious stuff…

In order, I thanked my wife Diane, but only after gathering myself. Fady, the manager at the retail store next to where I’ve been working, deserved praise not only for his store’s well-deserved award for outstanding commitment to expanded scope prescribing and injection services, but for taking the time to nominate me for such a high honour. The Association executive was thanked for hosting such a wonderful event and the Association members in attendance for sharing their experiences and successes throughout the weekend. Finally, I had to acknowledge the other recipients for letting me share in their special night. I hope it meant as much to them as it did to me.

I faltered in getting the last few words out, and my voice trailed off into nothing. I slowly trundled back to my seat.

So why have I spent 700 words to recount my gala experience? Mainly because this blog has been the outlet where I can be me, and one of the main reasons how I came to be on that very stage. Being recognized by a patient, or someone close to you is an amazing feeling. When it’s a group of peers, of mentors, of leaders…it means so much. This is a thank you to all of the people who have helped and supported me through the years, inside and out of my career. You’ve shared in my highs and lows. You’ve indulged my thoughts and words in conversation and on these very pages.

I promise to keep the waterworks to a dull roar 😉

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.