Petawawa

John Butler

Let’s welcome our neighbour, John Butler.

Hi, John! Tell us a bit about yourself.

Hi, my name is John Butler. I am a photographer, podcaster, and content creator. I was born in Toronto and moved to Brampton when I was 5. I am the second of four boys. We grew up playing hockey, soccer, and baseball as we were a very active family.

In grade 6, I started getting into music, which became a passion for me through the ’80s and ’90s. I started on the trombone in music class, but by grade 8, I moved to the drums, playing in school bands and some rock bands.

In 1992, while working at the head office of the bodybuilding magazines Musclemag International and Oxygen Women’s Fitness Magazine, I started to get into photography. Photography became my new passion.

After moving to Edmonton in 2003 for three years, I moved to Petawawa in 2006, where I currently live. I am married to my beautiful wife Colleen, and we have two daughters, Taylor-Rae, aged 24 and Payton, aged 18. We welcomed our first grandson into our lives in November 2024.

Currently, my wife and I run our photography business, John A. Butler Photography, focusing on portrait, headshot, and corporate branding photography. Lately, we started adding corporate video to our services.

In 2022, I started my podcast Butler’s Babble, a video podcast on YouTube with audio versions found on Spotify, Apple Podcast, and Google Podcast. Butler’s Babble is built on the power of resilience, healing, and human connection. Created to empower, inspire, and motivate listeners to overcome adversity and create meaningful change, the show features real-life stories from people who’ve faced life’s toughest challenges and found strength through growth. The podcast brings heart, humour, and hope to every conversation, helping others feel seen, understood, and empowered.

I believe in giving back through my work with many charities, including but not limited to the Pembroke Regional Hospital Foundation, Walk For Her, and Bernadette McCann House.

I also volunteer with the local Cogeco YourTV station as a camera operator, audio engineer, and on-air host.

What is your least favourite household chore?

I would have to say the laundry because it never seems to be finished. Every time you think you have it done, there is more, and you wonder where it is all coming from.

If you could start a whole new career path, what would you be?

Probably an actor or some sort of on-air personality on TV. I am a total extrovert. I did do some extra work on some TV shows back in my teens in the ’80s.

If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you like to go and why?

I have been all over Canada and the United States growing up, but I have never been outside North America. I have always wanted to visit Australia and Ireland. My ancestors used to own a castle in Ireland up until around the 1930s when it was given to the State. It used to be known as the “Butler Castle” and nowadays is known as the Kilkenny Castle in Kilkenny, Ireland. I would love to visit it one day.

What strange food combination do you most enjoy?

I love to get the chicken sandwich dinner with white meat and fries from Swiss Chalet and take the knife, cut up the sandwich (meat, bread, and all), and mix it with the fries. Then I pour the Chalet sauce over it to make it like a big chicken, bread, and fry stew.

I also like peanut butter and mayonnaise sandwiches, which most people think is disgusting.

Who is the best-known celebrity you have ever seen in person?

I have met Arnold Schwarzenegger during my times shooting bodybuilding shows through the mid to late ’90s and have photographed WWE diva, Trish Stratus, while she was a fitness model before she was a famous wrestler.

How many pairs of shoes do you own?

Four. One pair each of running shoes, dress shoes, casual shoes, and winter boots.

Are you a cat or dog person? Why?

I am a dog person. I have a dog now and had one when I was a kid. I have never had good experiences with cats. In my 20s, I had a roommate’s cat go to the bathroom in my bed, and when I met my wife, she had a cat who did not like me at all. I would take a dog over a cat any day.

If you were an Olympian, which sport would you compete in?

Hockey. I am a huge hockey fan and would love to experience playing for Team Canada on the Olympic hockey team.

If you could have your very own personal assistant, what would you have them do?

Take care of answering my emails for the business and answering the phone. Lol. I never seem to have enough time in the day to do everything that needs to be done.

What do you miss the most about being a kid?

I miss not having the internet and cell phones. We weren’t all glued to a screen, and we got out and did things in person. Also, having the energy and fitness level to play sports and enjoy hanging out with friends.

Nowadays, more and more people are becoming introverts, and there are not as many social events as there used to be.

Thanks for sharing with us, neighbour John.

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Next week, we welcome Chris Cooper.