Councillor Paul Butler

Paul Butler is thrilled to be serving as a City of Trail Councillor for a second term. Although born in New Westminster and a graduate of Burnaby’s St. Thomas More Collegiate and the Czech Republic’s Anglo-American University in Prague, Paul spent much of his youth in the Kootenays. In fact, generations of his family history is deeply embedded here; his grandmother, Isabel Butler, was one of the first female mayors in the Kootenays, holding the office in Kaslo from 1978-79. 

Butler’s background in finance has served him well in his return to the region. After 15 years with Westminster Savings, he joined Kootenay Savings in 2017 as the Branch Manager in Trail. An active and willing participant in the community, Paul leads by example; he’s volunteered and served on various boards, including the Trail and District Chamber of Commerce, the Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital Health Foundation, the Lower Columbia Initiatives Corporation and is the current Vice Chair and past Chair of the West Kootenay Boundary Investment Coop. 

In his Council role with the City of Trail, he’s served for four years as the liaison to the RCMP through the Protective Services Portfolio, the Lower Columbia Community Development Team Society, the Chamber of Commerce and was the Alternate Representative on the Community Safety Task Force as well as Deputy Mayor for the City. Butler is dedicated to bettering his chosen community for the sake of his constituents, neighbours, and family - with the passing of his husband, Josh, in June 2024, Paul is now a single father to their loving daughter, Ella. Despite the challenges of this loss, Paul remains deeply committed to his work in Trail, focusing on economic development, community renewal, and being a resource for his fellow council members. He is enthusiastic about the future and what can be accomplished through his Council appointments to the Chamber of Commerce Board, LCCDT Society Board, the Downtown Trail Improvement Board, Protective Services Portfolio, the Trail Airport Advisory Committee, and the statutory appointment to the Library Board. Paul strives to find ways to make a sustainable impact and to give back to Trail and the beautiful Kootenay region he calls home. 

Butler is a leader that comes from a place of listening first, learning second, and leading by example. Volunteerism, philanthropy, and social responsibility are all core values of Paul. His personal philosophy is supported by his belief in the importance of meeting his community’s greatest need, through giving back. These are the same values and views that the residents of Trail share with Councillor Butler, ones that have an enormous positive impact on our community.