When Ms Timms retired from Simply Pharmacy, in Toronto, on October 31, it marked the end of a 53-year career in chemist shops, including 44 years in Toronto.

“The last day was very emotional. I was laughing, crying, laughing, crying… all day,” she said.

A procession of customers, friends and well-wishers made their way into the shop to say their farewells and deliver gifts.

Among the gifts were two watches, a pendant, clothing, pot plants, gift cards, homewares and flowers – so many flowers, in fact, that Ms Timms couldn’t fit them all in her Blackalls Park home.

“I just wanted to say thank you – not just for all of this, but for being such wonderful friends,” she said.

“But ‘thank you’ seems so inadequate. I can’t thank everyone enough.”