Joe and June Butler (top right) and Glen Butler are pictured in this composite photo. (Image Credit: RIH Foundation)

By Victor Kaisar

Million Dollar Donation

‘Significant public area’ at Royal Inland Hospital to be dedicated to Butler family following million dollar donation

Nov 8, 2025 | 2:09 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) Foundation is heralding a million dollar donation from the Butler family, saying it will help countless people access exceptional care in Kamloops.

The donation was made in honour of the Joe Butler, who passed away on June 27, 2025. Joe and his wife, June, opened Butler Auto & RV Centre in 1975, and the RIH Foundation says this donation reflects the family’s “deep connection” with the hospital and the community.

“When I talked it over with [son] Glen, I decided that rather than leaving this gift in my will, I wanted to make this donation while I am still here to see the incredible difference it will make in my lifetime,” June said in a statement released by the foundation.

“This community gave so much to us when we were in business, it just feels right to give back. The greatest joy you can get is giving.”

RIH Foundation CEO Heidi Coleman said they will dedicate a “significant public area” in the hospital to the Butler family. More details will be released in the future.

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“This gift will be transformational in helping to address the current and emerging needs of our hospital, supporting the equipment, technology and programs essential to patient care as well as the medical professionals who make that care possible,” Coleman said.

“Above all, this gift is an investment in our community’s well-being, and we couldn’t be more grateful.”

According to the RIH Foundation, this is not the first donation made by the Butler family. Back in 2017, Joe and June donated $200,000 to support cardiac care after Glen was treated at RIH for serious cardiac complications.

“When we started out, we built everything from the ground up,” June added. “As our business grew, we were happy to invest in causes that helped people. We’ve always believed that supporting the hospital reaches the greatest number of people because everyone, at some point, relies on it.”

You can read more about the Butler family’s donation here.