Special Feature - Alex Butt

Alex was born in Western Bay, Newfoundland on October 23, 1922, 87 years ago. He weighed 12 pounds, 13 ounces! He graduated from Nova Scotia Technical College in 1946 with an Engineering Degree. A year later, Alex ventured to Toronto to be interviewed by Shell Oil for an engineering position. On his way to his Shell interview, he got off the street car by mistake in front of the Imperial Oil building, one block north of the Shell building. Alex wandered into the Imperial Oil building and asked if they had an engineering department. Before long Alex was being interviewed by Gilbert Wheaton - Chief Engineer, Imperial Oil. Alex was so impressed with the reception he received at Imperial Oil that he accepted the position without confirming the salary. He later determined that the starting salary at Shell Oil would have been higher. However he never regretted his decision to go to work for Imperial Oil. Alex's first job was to design and construct a new under wing refueling cart in Gander, Newfoundland.

Alex met his wife, Ena Rideout, as members of the Gower Street Church Choir in St. John's. They were married on June 2, 1949. He worked in St. John's, Newfoundland as Division Engineer. In 1969 Alex was offered a position in the Caribbean as Operations Manager. His territory included Bahamas, Bermuda and Jamaica. At the time of the transfer, Alex and Ena were encouraged to leave their two sons in a private school in Nova Scotia since Jamaica was considered a dangerous place to raise a family. However their younger nine-year-old daughter lived in Jamaica with them. Within a month of arriving in Jamaica, the Jamaican Government made the decision that only one oil company would have distribution facilities. Imperial Oil was the successful provider of these facilities. The assignment lasted one year and Alex moved back to Halifax. Jamaica represents to Alex the fondest memories of his time with Imperial. The work was extremely interesting and satisfying and Alex was in charge of the whole operation.

Alex has two passions besides his family - music and woodworking. Woodworking consisted of making and repairing anything made of wood. He made furniture, wooden bowls, and all sorts of novel items mainly as gifts and he did work for friends on special request. Alex was President of the Kinsmen Club in St. John's. In Halifax he was also an avid fundraiser for the Kiwanis Club and held the position of Director and President of the Kiwanis Music Festival for eight years. Alex has a wonderful ability to sing and has performed many times - solo and with choirs. He has been a volunteer with the IWK Children's Hospital Foundation.

Alex and Ena are very proud of their three children, eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren. In his retirement Alex planned to travel. He and Ena have made regular trips to St. John's and Vancouver to visit their children and grandchildren. Alex and Ena recently made a significant change in their lives when they moved from their home of 45 years to a condo in Halifax. Life is now easier with no snow to shovel or lawns to keep. However Alex misses his woodworking shop.