Annual donation by Butler Family Foundation supports cancer research at BU

The end of Breast Cancer Awareness Month has also marked the beginning of a new commitment. A generous donation by an alumni member and his family will help support breast cancer research at Brandon University (BU) for years to come.

Gerald and Carmen Butler, along with the Butler Family Foundation, have pledged an annual gift of $25,000 to support the BU Breast Cancer Cell & Molecular Research Laboratory. The donation will help pay for student trainees and supplies for the lab, which is run by Dr. Mousumi Majumder, BU’s Canada Research Chair in Genotoxicology. Dr. Majumder and her trainees are studying the relationship that tiny genes, called micro RNAs have with breast cancer. They hope to use the mRNAs as biomarkers to spot cancer earlier through blood tests, while also examining how they could be used to develop improved therapies.

“I’ve been following Dr. Majumder’s work with great interest, and I’m amazed by her accomplishments and how she is touching so many lives through important research and by providing a world-class training ground for students,” said Gerald, a proud alumnus of Brandon College. “Brandon University and Brandon College are close to my heart. My family and I have been delighted to support many great initiatives at BU, and I encourage others to do the same.”

The BU Breast Cancer Cell & Molecular Research Laboratory was officially opened in 2023 and has been supported by funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation, Research Manitoba and VWR International (Avantor). Dr. Majumder has received grants through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Breast Cancer Society of Canada, while her student trainees have also been the recipients of numerous research grants for their work in the lab.

Despite this, rising costs and tight budgets are always a challenge as Dr. Majumder tries to balance securing funding to pay her trainees while acquiring the consumable supplies necessary for her work. Being able to count on generous and continuing donor support is a great asset to the research program.

“We are fortunate that Mr. Gerald Butler and Mrs. Carmen Butler have pledged ongoing support for several years,” Dr. Majumder said. “Their generosity will enable us to cover trainees’ stipends, procure vital consumables, and, most importantly, advance research focused on identifying therapeutic targets for untreatable breast cancer. We are deeply grateful for their continued commitment to our cause.”

The Butlers have a long history as contributors to BU and Brandon College. Raised in Brandon, Gerald grew up across the street from the “college grounds.” In 1958, he began his affiliation with Brandon College, graduating in 1963 with a Bachelor of Science Degree and an Education 1 Certificate a year later. After teaching for two years, Gerald returned to Brandon with his new wife, Carmen, from Hearst, Ont., and joined the financial industry with New York Life and eventually Cardinal Capital Management.

Upon returning to Brandon in 1966, Gerald became involved in his alma mater, sitting on both the Alumni Board and the Foundation Board, where he served as a member and later as President on both boards. He rejoined the Foundation in 2019. He also served as a committee chairperson on the Building from Strength Campaign. In addition to this, he helped establish the Winnipeg Alumni Chapter, where he served as Chair for many years and continues as an active member to this day. For decades, he has been the Class of 1963 reunion organizer, encouraging classmates to meet at Homecoming to reconnect with each other and their alma mater.

“It’s encouraging to know our alumni see the same value in investing in research that we do.”

Dr. Bernadette Ardelli, BU Vice-President (Research & Graduate Studies)

In 2014, Gerald established the BU/Apple iPad program for PENT students. This program continues to provide iPads for current and future PENT students providing access to electronics, setting them up for success. In addition to Gerald and Carmen’s own generosity, they successfully encouraged others to support the program as well.

Gerald and Carmen have also supported several other initiatives, including Mini U, the Seven Generations Scholarship, Enactus Bursaries, the McCutcheon Alcove and the Student Emergency Fund, to name a few. 

In 2015, Gerald received the Alumni Association’s Exceptional Service Award, in 2019 he received Brandon University’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2023, he received the BU Foundation’s Apex Award for outstanding leadership and service to Brandon University Foundation. 

“It’s encouraging to know our alumni see the same value in investing in research that we do,” said Dr. Bernadette Ardelli, Vice-President (Research & Graduate Studies) at BU. “Gerald has been a great longtime supporter of BU. I have always appreciated his contributions to the University, and I always look forward to seeing him at events.”

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