By Dianne Cornish • REVIEW STAFF
It seems only fitting that a mayor of one small-town Ontario community would volunteer to help out a mayor of another, especially when they happen to be brothers. That’s the case of Bill “Shewy” Shewfelt, Copetown’s unofficial “mayor,” and his older brother, Deb, longtime mayor of Goderich.
After a tornado bearing winds of 300 kilometres ripped through Goderich last August 21, leaving destruction in its wake, “Shewy” and the Copetown Lions, decided they wanted to do something to help Goderich recover from the disaster.
Members of the local service club came up with the idea of a fundraiser for the Goderich Disaster Relief Fund that entails a lot of good-natured fun, most of it poked at “Shewy,” during an upcoming roast of the man who has managed the Copetown Lions Community Centre for the past 20 years. Shewy and his siblings grew up in Copetown and are well known in the community, especially in sports circles, particularly minor baseball and hockey. While Deb moved north to pursue his career, “Shewy” stayed in Copetown, the place that he has called home for all of his 70 years.
On Saturday, Jan. 21, the charter Lions club member will face the verbal jabs of family and friends as the service group raises funds for Goderich’s rebuilding campaign. The event, featuring cocktails at 5:30 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m., will be held in the Copetown Lions Community Centre.
The club also plans to hold live and silent auctions in connection with the festivities.
Lion Dave Biehler is chair of the roast and is being assisted by club member Doug Paddon.
“It should be quite an interesting evening because Shewy has been here for quite a long time,” Paddon said.
Several roasters are waiting in the wings for an opportunity “to show Shewy the respect he deserves.” Among them are former Hamilton mayor Bob Wade, Dundas Real McCoys’s manager Don Robertson, a friend from childhood days, Ross Cummings, Copetown Lion Bob Pearson and several members of the Shewfelt family, including Shewy’s brother, Deb.
The club is still accepting donations from area businesses and individuals in support of the auctions.
Some residents, unable to attend the upcoming fundraiser, have also stepped up and made cash donations.
Tickets cost $65 per person or $500 for a table of eight. They can be obtained by calling Paddon at 905-627-4508 or Biehler at 905-648-7996, or by dropping into the Com/Choice Realty office on King Street in Dundas.
Tax receipts are available.
The tornado took a heavy toll on the town of Goderich, ripping it apart, causing one death and upwards of $75 million in property damage. The rebuilding process is underway, with the Ontario government matching all contributions two to one.
