A Legacy Built on Community Care
Some businesses become more than a place people visit — they become part of the heartbeat of a community. In Riverview, the Jean Coutu pharmacy on Coverdale Road is one of those places. At the center of that story is David Ford, a third-generation pharmacist whose family has spent more than sixty years caring for local families.
After graduating from the University of Alberta in 1991, David Ford returned home to New Brunswick to continue a family legacy that began in 1962 when Riverview’s first pharmacy opened its doors. What started as following in the footsteps of his father and uncle soon became a calling rooted deeply in community healthcare.
“I watched my dad and my uncle help people every day. I saw how much they enjoyed it, and I thought — why not try it too?”
Over the years, David realized that what mattered most to him was not simply dispensing medication, but building relationships and helping people through every stage of life. Today, many families in Riverview have trusted the same pharmacy team for generations.
Modern pharmacy care has evolved dramatically over the last four decades, and David has helped lead that evolution locally. Jean Coutu Riverview now provides expanded healthcare services including minor ailment prescribing, chronic care support, pharmacy care clinics, strep testing, and assistance for patients without family doctors.
The Riverview location also became a pilot site for southern New Brunswick, helping shape many of the community pharmacy services now used across the province.
“You see four or five generations of the same family. You’ve been their pharmacist through the good times and the challenging times. You become part of their story — and that’s incredibly rewarding.”
What many people may not realize is that major healthcare innovations with national impact were born right here in Riverview.
- David helped launch Canada’s first private community infusion clinic in 2001.
- That initiative later grew into a national network serving patients across the country.
- David and his partners also helped launch BioScript Solutions — Canada’s first national specialty pharmacy organization.
BioScript Solutions
David Ford’s impact reaches far beyond Riverview through his role as co-founder of BioScript Solutions — one of Canada’s leading specialty healthcare organizations. What began in 2001 as a single infusion clinic inside his Coverdale Road pharmacy grew into a national network focused on helping patients with chronic illnesses and rare diseases access complex therapies and specialty care.
The idea for BioScript began when David stepped in to support patients involved in a Remicade clinical trial after the host hospital withdrew from the program. Rather than allowing patients to lose access to care, he created one of Canada’s first private community infusion clinics directly within his pharmacy — an innovative model that quickly expanded throughout Atlantic Canada and eventually across the country.
Today, BioScript Solutions operates nationally with more than 100 Coverdale Clinics, specialty pharmacies, patient support programs, and healthcare logistics services serving Canadians coast to coast. The company employs more than 1,500 people and continues to grow from its New Brunswick roots.
Despite the company’s national reach, David Ford has remained deeply connected to the philosophy that started it all — putting patients first. BioScript frequently highlights his belief that healthcare should remain personal, compassionate, and community-driven.
Beyond the pharmacy counter, David is known as a quiet community builder who believes healthcare should feel human, accessible, and compassionate.
- Passionate gardener who helps maintain planters at Bricks Café and El Rio
- Dedicated master swimmer
- Strong believer in kindness, empathy, and community connection
“If you don’t care about people, you shouldn’t be in healthcare. Empathy is everything.”
When asked during our rapid-fire interview what the best thing about Riverview is, David answered without hesitation: “The people.” It’s a simple response, but one that reflects the heart of both the man and the community he continues to serve.
Feature Interview by Chuck Bates | Harbour Wave Communications (HWC)
Featured on People of Atlantic Canada & RiverviewNB.com
Through Harbour Wave Communications HWCAtlantic.com and community platforms such as RiverviewNB.com, our mission is to highlight the people, businesses, and stories creating positive ripples throughout Atlantic Canada. David Ford represent exactly that spirit — compassion, resilience, education, and a commitment to community.
If you are interested in featuring a story or submitting content please reach out to us at contact@hwcatlantic.com