Harry Butler of Halifax was an outstanding athlete in his youth, especially in hockey. He later had a long and successful career as a coach, referee and business manager of championship teams in Nova Scotia. He was instrumental in the founding of the Halifax Wolverines in 1930. Hockey was lacking support in the city and Butler was one of the most prominent sportsmen committed to the game. He was convinced that the public would support a good hockey team in a Nova Scotia league.

With Butler’s help, the Wolverines won the Allan Cup in 1935. He was also elected president of the senior baseball league, named to the city Recreation Commission, and served as chairman of the Halifax Athletic Commission an organization that governed all professional boxing bouts in Halifax.

He was also the first and only president of the Halifax and District Baseball League which sent many players to the major leagues in the United States.

As an alderman he devoted much of his time to the development of recreation facilities in Halifax and was a prime mover in the construction of the Centennial Swimming Pool and in bringing in the Canada Summer Games to the City of Halifax. As well as serving on the Summer Games Committee, he provided his services as Chairman of the 1969 Halifax Athletic Commission, and as Chairman of the Recreation and Playground Commission in 1967. He served Sport Heritage as the managing director of the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame from 1968-1975.