Enid Butler

Enid Mary Butler was a devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, community leader, mentor, and extraordinary volunteer whose determination and compassion reached far beyond her Winnipeg home.

Born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Enid grew up with her younger brothers and spent memorable summers at Pike Lake, where she formed friendships that endured throughout her life. She attended the University of Saskatchewan and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

After university, Enid worked for the Province of Saskatchewan, where she met Conrad “Con” Butler. They married in April 1965 and moved to Winnipeg the following year. Their loving partnership lasted nearly 50 years and provided the foundation for a lifetime of family, travel, professional achievement, and community service.

Enid’s varied career reflected her talent for bringing people together. She established a nursery school in Southdale, coordinated volunteers at Misericordia Hospital and Middlechurch Home of Winnipeg, and later created her own consulting business to assist community and nonprofit organizations.

Volunteerism was one of the defining forces in Enid’s life. Her remarkable service with Girl Guides of Canada began at the local level and eventually grew into national and international leadership. From serving as a Brownie leader, she rose to become a Deputy Chief Commissioner of Girl Guides of Canada and later chaired the Western Hemisphere Committee of the worldwide Guiding movement.

Through Guiding, Enid travelled internationally, trained leaders, shared ideas across cultures, and formed friendships around the world. She believed strongly in helping women and girls discover their abilities, develop confidence, and become leaders in their own communities.

That international service also brought Enid into contact with African grandmothers raising children whose parents had died during the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Deeply moved by their courage, she became a founding member of Winnipeg’s Grands ’N More, part of the Stephen Lewis Foundation’s Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign.

Enid also served on numerous nonprofit boards and volunteered through Augustine United Church and Oak Table, supporting people experiencing poverty, isolation, and food insecurity. Whether working internationally or close to home, she approached service with intelligence, persistence, and genuine concern for others.

Despite her many commitments, family remained central to Enid’s life. She and Con treasured their daughters, Susan and Jennifer, and fully embraced their roles as grandparents. Time spent at cottages in Pike Lake, Sandy Hook, and Gimli created some of the family’s happiest memories.

Enid credited Con’s steadfast encouragement with helping make her many professional and volunteer opportunities possible. Together they travelled extensively, welcomed new experiences, and created a strong partnership rooted in mutual respect and shared purpose.

Enid passed away peacefully on March 9, 2023, at the age of 81. She is lovingly remembered by her daughters and their families, her grandchildren, great-granddaughter, brother, extended family, and the many friends and volunteers she inspired around the world.