Fred Beavis
Encyclopedia
Frederick J. Beavis was a longtime city councillor in Toronto, Ontario, who briefly served as interim mayor of the city in 1978.
Beavis operated the Beavis Bros. Roofing Co. with his brothers before becoming a full-time politician.
Beavis became an alderman in 1961 in the city's ward 1. Except for a brief period between 1975 and 1977 he served on council until 1988. He served on several committees and sat on Metro Council as well. He was also a member of Metro's executive committee.
After mayor David Crombie resigned in August 1978 to enter federal politics, city council became deadlocked with regards to voting in a new interim mayor. Beavis and fellow councillor Anne Johnston
each had an equal number of votes. With the consent of both candidates, the decision was made to put both names into a hat, and the name picked out of the hat would officially be pronounced interim mayor. Beavis won, and became Toronto's mayor until John Sewell
was elected by the public two months later.
Beavis lost his council seat to NDP candidate Marilyn Churley in the 1988 municipal election.
Beavis died of pneumonia
on July 11, 1997 at St Michael's hospital. His wife Frances died in 1980. Their grandson, Michael Hainsworth
, is a broadcast journalist.
Beavis operated the Beavis Bros. Roofing Co. with his brothers before becoming a full-time politician.
Beavis became an alderman in 1961 in the city's ward 1. Except for a brief period between 1975 and 1977 he served on council until 1988. He served on several committees and sat on Metro Council as well. He was also a member of Metro's executive committee.
After mayor David Crombie resigned in August 1978 to enter federal politics, city council became deadlocked with regards to voting in a new interim mayor. Beavis and fellow councillor Anne Johnston
Anne Johnston
Anne Johnston was a longtime city councillor in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She was first elected to Toronto City Council in 1972, and served until 1985 when she ran against incumbent Mayor Art Eggleton, but was defeated. In 1988 she was elected to Metro Toronto Council...
each had an equal number of votes. With the consent of both candidates, the decision was made to put both names into a hat, and the name picked out of the hat would officially be pronounced interim mayor. Beavis won, and became Toronto's mayor until John Sewell
John Sewell
John Sewell, CM is a Canadian political activist and writer on municipal affairs; he was the mayor of Toronto, Ontario from 1978 to 1980.-Background:...
was elected by the public two months later.
Beavis lost his council seat to NDP candidate Marilyn Churley in the 1988 municipal election.
Beavis died of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
on July 11, 1997 at St Michael's hospital. His wife Frances died in 1980. Their grandson, Michael Hainsworth
Michael Hainsworth
Michael Hainsworth is a business reporter for CTV Toronto and CTV affiliates across the country. He anchors The Close on Canada's financial news network, Business News Network . He also files business reports for Toronto all-news channel CablePulse24 and national cable news network CTV News Channel...
, is a broadcast journalist.