Ms. Lauren Steinberg reports

HEALTH QUESTIONS? "ASK AWAY." PC HEALTH LAUNCHES NEW "BUILT IN CANADA FOR CANADIANS" AI-POWERED HEALTH CHAT

Loblaw Companies Ltd.'s PC Health has launched PC Chat, a free AI-powered (artificial intelligence) health tool built in Canada, based on Canadian clinical guidelines, providing Canadians a convenient place to ask health questions and get plain-language information in real time.

"Canadians are asking health questions every day, but more information doesn't always bring more clarity," said Lauren Steinberg, executive vice-president and chief digital officer of Loblaw Companies. "We built PC Chat to give Canadians a place to find trusted information and a clear path to next steps. It's the most comprehensive AI health tool built specifically for Canadians, informed by Canadian clinical expertise and backed by an advisory board of leading Canadian clinical experts."

New research commissioned by PC Health found that 88 per cent of Canadians searched on-line for health information in the past year, yet nearly half (46 per cent) remain unsure whether the information they find is accurate, one-third (33 per cent) encounter conflicting advice, and more than one-quarter (26 per cent) say there is simply too much information to sort through.

"As a physician, I see an important role for technology in helping Canadians access reliable, trusted health information while they navigate a health care system that is under increasing pressure," said Dr. Anthony Crocco, chair of Shoppers Drug Mart's clinical AI advisory committee. "PC Chat has been carefully reviewed for Canada's health care context. It is designed to help people feel more informed and support -- not replace -- care from health care professionals."

Built in Canada, for Canadians

Designed for the Canadian health care system, PC Chat is grounded in more than 1,000 Canadian clinical sources that have been reviewed and validated for Canadian health care relevance, reliability and inclusivity. Canadian medical professionals from Loblaw's clinical AI advisory committee have also been a part of building it from the start and shaping how it works, the information it relies on and how it guides people toward appropriate next steps.

Vetted through credentialled third party advisors, the chat was designed to ensure relevance to every province and territory, including underserved patient populations. This includes adaptation and testing to deliver an equivalent user experience on the French-language version launching later this fall.

Personalized, with privacy built in

PC Chat was designed with privacy and safety at its core. Canadians can use the chat confidently, knowing their health chat conversations are stored in Canada and are protected by Canada's privacy laws.

Canadians control their information and they decide what they choose to share. A more personalized experience is available when a user chooses to connect their PC Health or Shoppers Drug Mart digital pharmacy profile, giving the chat more context about their health history and helping make responses more applicable to their individual circumstances.

"Pharmacists tailor patient conversations based on their clinical knowledge and that patient's medication history," said Nabil Chikh, senior vice-president, pharmacy, Shoppers Drug Mart. "PC Chat helps users navigate next steps based on the questions they ask, such as when to visit a health care provider and deciding where to go, so they can come to health care conversations feeling even more prepared."

Helping Canadians find the right care

With Canada's health care system under increasing pressure, long wait times can make it difficult to get timely answers. PC Chat will never replace doctors, pharmacists or other health care providers, but Canadians deserve more options -- a tool based on Canadian medical guidelines, with oversight from Canadian health professionals. That is where PC Health comes in. It helps Canadians find the care they need and feel better equipped for their health care appointments.

Ask away, get informed, know what you can do next

To celebrate the launch of PC Chat, PC Health is launching a campaign called Ask Away, which will be brought to life through a public aerial drone experience over Toronto. Inspired by the health questions many Canadians find themselves asking late at night, the experience is designed to illuminate those moments of uncertainty and remind people that getting informed can be easier than they think.

Torontonians along the waterfront can look to the skyline at approximately 11 p.m. ET on Sept. 10, 2026, as a series of health-related questions appear overhead during a 15-minute aerial display. The experience will conclude with a simple prompt: ask away.

Available now

The new AI-powered health chat is available now in most Canadian provinces on the PC Health and Shoppers Drug Mart apps and websites. It will become available in New Brunswick and Quebec (for Pharmaprix and PC Sante app users in Quebec) later this fall.

For medical, safety or mental health emergencies, users should call 911 or seek immediate help from emergency services. While the tool may remind users to contact appropriate urgent support, it is not to be used for crisis or emergency situations.

About Loblaw Companies Ltd.

Loblaw is Canada's food and pharmacy leader and the nation's largest retailer. Loblaw provides Canadians with grocery, pharmacy and health care services, other health and beauty products, apparel, general merchandise, financial services, and wireless mobile products and services. With more than 2,800 locations, Loblaw, its franchisees and associate-owners employ more than 220,000 full-time and part-time employees, making it one of Canada's largest private-sector employers.

Loblaw's purpose, Live Life Well, puts first the needs and well-being of Canadians, who make one billion transactions annually in the company's stores. Loblaw is positioned to meet and exceed those needs in many ways: convenient locations; more than 1,100 grocery stores that span the value spectrum from discount to specialty; full-service pharmacies at nearly 1,400 Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix locations and in close to 500 grocery stores; PC Financial services; Joe Fresh fashion and family apparel; and four of Canada's top consumer brands in Life Brand, Farmer's Market, no name and President's Choice.