Thunder Bay Mayor Walter Assef 1981

This video is from the TBT News archives, and it's pure gold. I've been meaning to upload it for a long time, but better late than never! (apologies for the head clogs and rough editing)

[@JoseMorales-lw5nt]

Good Lord! How did I go 40 years without knowing this glorious piece of videotape even existed?! O, Canada, indeed....

[@rewindcat7927]

I love when I find an SCTV episode I haven’t seen before 😌

[@jameswhipple5658]

That is Gold !! 🇨🇦😂🤘🇨🇦

[@randylahey7343]

The Right Honourable Guy Cablierro

[@rewindcat7927]

@@randylahey7343 😂

[@ibtaba]

I expect Bobby Bitman to come in and take a seat next to the mayor.

[@rewindcat7927]

@@ibtaba HOW ARE YA! But seriously folks as a comic in all seriousness I love this man I really do.

[@guyb7005]

Walter Assef (May 31, 1913 - January 14, 1988) was a Canadian politician, and former Vaudevillian,[1] who served as mayor of the city of Thunder Bay, Ontario. He was the first, and so far the only mayor, to have been elected for two discontinuous terms. He was first elected in 1973 and served until 1978. His second term began when he was re-elected in 1981 and lasted until 1985. I read Vaude-villain. 1:37 "I fugett -- hmph" This is classic!

[@8JFJK8]

5:51 “youre nothing but a tramp. You arent a man like i am.” lmfaoooo

[@southwest3671]

Haha, but he’s right!

[@mjr_schneider]

I live one province over from Thunder Bay and yet somehow the legend of this beautiful madman has only just reached me now.

[@user-tb2vc3gd5w]

I live in the same province - first I'm hearing of him!

[@ethankamphof3014]

and i live in tbay

[@Estate1997Italia]

You make no sense

[@giannipuface9441]

what a dumb thing to say. i doubt anyone knows all the mayors of every city in the province next to them

[@mjr_schneider]

@@giannipuface9441 Of course but I live in Manitoba and I've been to T Bay several times. I'm just wondering why such a crazy character isn't more widely known across Canada.

[@mrfingers4737]

Most councils in Canada are stuffed with friends and family members that feel entitled to stuff they aren't.

[@AJ12Gamer]

Same in the Philippines

[@mat-og4kx]

same in every government

[@AlexG-xl1cc]

Yes Canada is very much like post soviet Russia in that aspect. The gov there just exists to rape the land of resources

[@TheJimprez]

I would like to see your research so you can justify the word MOST... That means MORE than HALF in case you don't realize it. Although I agree that it HAPPENS.. MOST is like NEVER or ALWAYS... A word that has a definite meaning and should ONLY be used when CERTAIN... .

[@3rdSide2Story]

@@TheJimprez Open your eyes. Low voter turnout, and apathy for civic politics make it ripe for corruption. Most!

[@kellyrobinson7955]

I love how he's wearing sunglasses in chambers.

[@wilmachappell727]

Kelly Robinson Was he a member of a motorcycle club ?? Usually these type hide their eyes because they don’t want people to see their sifted eyes 👀 😂

[@jaworskij]

Back then television indoor lights were quite bright. So if the Mayor had eyesight issues then I can understand why he'd wanna wear dem glasses.

[@ahtitolvanen5234]

Assef sure had it right on Victoriaville.

[@joshualoveless20]

All he's missing is a cigar.

[@lesbaxter4572]

Hahaha

[@mckessa17]

I think they all got liquored up before every town council meeting.

[@AnnaLVajda]

Yeah drinking and smoking was not illegal then it was macho no one is allowed to drink or smoke or have testicles either anymore apparently. You can't lose your temper or even be assertive the world is completely oppressive now but someone Canadians had a reputation for being nice and polite still even in the 80s.

[@jaypee389]

Yes. Mouthfuls of Crown Royal before every meeting, maybe 3 full mouthfuls.

[@nervesinapattern7261]

He’s on something stronger with those sunglasses on indoors

[@Zak6959]

The sobering reality of it is, they were probably sober. Then later on they went out and got drunk.

[@Dwightstjohn-fo8ki]

@@jaypee389 well, you get an honest evaluation of what the guy REALLY thinks of you, eh? Pass the "Golden Wedding".

[@minecraft_fal6923]

I’m from Thunder Bay and corruption still exists today, under qualified relatives receiving jobs and Victoriaville mall is still a disaster, it’s run down and it’s in a rundown neighborhood in fort William or west fort, it’s hard to tell

[@difencrosby]

Actually it’s right before the bridge which separated West Fort from Port Arthur, so it’s fair to say it’s Port Arthur

[@minecraft_fal6923]

@@difencrosby but isn’t it close to Arthur street?

[@difencrosby]

@@minecraft_fal6923 it’s on Arthur street before it runs over the bridge onto Simpson St.

[@thegreatdominion949]

Patty Hajdu is your MP. Enough said.

[@minecraft_fal6923]

@@thegreatdominion949 so, what does patty hajdu have to do with this?

[@JacobHarvietheSinger]

The sunglasses inside. My guy is just too ripped!

[@mcrichton46]

I see a lot of influence for Jim Lahey’s character in Trailer Park Boys in this guy

[@TheJoshGalt]

I miss these kind of characters in Canadian politics

[@sparkymedic]

This guy would easily fit in on TPB

[@connorthompson1848]

I wouldn't be surprised if many still exist in municipalities across the country. Small town newspapers and radio stations used to follow these meetings religiously but the economics (sadly) changed so the reports and reporters faded away.

[@4486xxdawson]

I miss politics period , there is no politics now just morons telling us what we can do and cant do , more like communism then democracy now isnt it , here is your allowannce do as your told dont gather your getting fined for not staying inside , take this vaccine or you cant do this or that , ya politics , do as we say while we do what we want and take your freedoms . Only a fool would give up freedom for safty , Benjamin Franklin once said this and here we are ....

[@elifazeli7334]

England has them we are a lot of sissies but slowly I see this coming

[@southwest3671]

These types are still found in Australia.

[@mechanicjobs]

SNL can’t even do a skit this funny.

[@nilsbrownmusic4507]

SCTV

[@fucker1714]

Can they do anything funny these days?

[@WiseOwl_1408]

They can't do anything funny at all for the last decade

[@matthewgarrow6982]

Snl can’t do a funny skit

[@ashz3897]

Hahah

[@logan_dabeast7961]

Lol I’m in Thunder Bay, glad to see this pop up on my recommendations

[@scarcellogianna2201]

Lol same

[@jeremy4192]

Wow, this makes threee!!!!😋

[@kabrigoazul6844]

Fourth?

[@jaydurant3048]

A fifth, Amen!

[@jefflewis2304]

Sixth

[@caligulapontifex5759]

Legend has it that Pakota hasn’t cut it out as of this day.

[@Inlinetodie]

😂

[@fancybobbybob]

Witty you are!

[@fraserjudd9483]

This could easily be an SCTV skit. John Candy as Major and Joe Flaherty as J.P. Packota.

[@daktarioskarvannederhosen2568]

dave thomas as the alderman that said to the mayor that he had been cut off from speaking earlier, rick moranis as the alderman that says you cannot force somebody to apologise.

[@Zak6959]

Hahahaha

[@maskof]

Yeah, Tommy Shanks has got nothing on this guy!

[@davorlekenik9563]

I live in Croatia (former Yugoslavia) and my uncle from Thunder Bay talk many times about this man ....he told that he was Syrian origin .....

[@trcr5473]

I'm sure he would be rolling in his grave then if he could see what modern governments are up to, because they all "stink to high heaven"

[@josephmedlej2747]

Lebanese*

[@arslanb4278]

Not Syrian, Lebanese! His dad was from Lebanon and mom from Brazil!

[@johngibson2884]

@@arslanb4278 large Lebanese population in Brasil

[@tomzimmerman4019]

This mayor is a bigger source of entertainment than Rob Ford.

[@andersenzheng]

Lew from lewlater sent me here. I love how refreshing this is in 2021

[@chrisxavier3147]

"One of these days I'll whip you bad"

[@davidhamilton7628]

Hahaha

[@landsurfer66]

"You're damned right I will. I'll show'ya what I'll do to ya!"

[@cannednolan8194]

Only one guy goes at Trudeau like that Pierre.

[@Eskify]

The greatest video on the internet

[@Seby728]

Yeh

[@RichardCockerill]

why?please explin kind sir

[@daktarioskarvannederhosen2568]

I might just have to agree that it's the best video i have seen, to date, on youtube.

[@nilsbrownmusic4507]

It’s a toss-up between this and, “Turkmenistan Military Parade, 2014”, which is also a gem.

[@mckessa17]

This dude should have been in the movie The Godfather.

[@Boss-qv8oy]

"Don't cross me." Say no more.

[@jackjosef8736]

Just so everybody knows, my Grandfather Joe Vander Wees was never whipped by Walter Assef! -Jack Vander Wees Edit: I wrote this when I was 14, a couple months after my grandfather died of cancer. The last memories I have of him are at the hospice fucking dying. This video used to make me smile, but it hasn’t since I’ve been getting vile comments. You might not have agreed with my grandfathers views, but he gave his all to the city. De mortuis nihil nisi bonum

[@cowtippingrocks]

+Jack Josef My Grandfather was JD Polhill.. I never remember him saying anything bad about Walter like getting whipped either!

[@davesmith9916]

i was friends with your grandfathers' son rob in those days. i recall your grandfather was very proficient at pinching with his bare toes.lol not kidding.

[@JuicyJam]

I mean, anybody on the internet can just claim someone is their grandfather..

[@jackjosef8736]

@@JuicyJam fair, there’s videos online I could link for ya but don’t feel like exposing my 12 year old self today

[@JuicyJam]

@@jackjosef8736 proof is in the pudding

[@bpacheco6]

This guy reminds me so much of my.wifes grandfather whom I was so close to which passed away a month ago..wow..thanks so much for posting this it brings me great joy!

[@doncorleone8686]

This mayor reminds me of our old Montréal mayor Jean Drapeau. Ciao from Little Italy 🇮🇹 Montréal

[@RichardCockerill]

send me some montreal bagels bubba

[@JonathanVachon777]

Lol true

[@doncorleone8686]

@@RichardCockerill where to? Would be glad to do so.

[@Hollywoodin2001b]

I was in Thunder Bay in 1981 for the Canada Games. None of us knew who he was. There was a security guy laughing and said his name was "Jolly Wally". He spoke nicely about the athletes and coaches from across Canada.

[@mikewest5529]

Never seen a mayor call anybody out for a fight!! That’s some good tv right there! He puts the THUNDER in Thunder Bay!!

[@xJROC420x]

Flippin' loved this guy! Lived down the block, shovelled his driveway, and when our scout troop when to council one night, well,... he was never a shy fella!❤😂

[@jeremy4192]

Yeah. His " driveway"...

[@gubz5710]

"i forget" my favourite part

[@djslip_irie]

Priceless that was.

[@ashz3897]

that was my favourite part 😅

[@mr-sj6kd]

Damn this guy's awesome, not afraid to speak his peace or put someone in their place, pure champ..

[@rezjames3147]

Lol. Try that today.

[@canuck9199]

That was some good tv right there!!

[@jonnywishbone17]

No kidding eh?

[@timminsjoe]

This is youtube gold!! love it I can listen to that all day long

[@hobbygirl68]

Make a rock em sock em series Walter Assef style. On a side note, tapes are so old those aviators everyone is wearing are back in style too. Keep em coming!

[@henrybrar]

Who is here after watching this on Lew Later?

[@jonnywishbone17]

Which episode? Can you post a link

[@thr3e_829]

@@jonnywishbone17 kzbin.info/www/bejne/fmO8fqWDZrF9jM0

[@dcholin]

He was a good guy he live on my street I use to deliver newspapers to him

[@leroilapue15]

Good, competent men with backbones are in short supply these days

[@harrumphy]

Did he tell you to shut up as soon as he saw you coming?

[@TheJoshGalt]

In his defence, he was drunk. So give him a break. Or I’ll come for the whole lot of ya’!

[@daktarioskarvannederhosen2568]

Lolz

[@bryandawkins]

Walter Assef (May 31, 1913 - January 14, 1988) served as mayor of the city of Thunder Bay, Ontario. He was the first, and so far the only mayor, to have been a Vaudevillian. he was on his second term when this was filmed 1981 and left office in 1985

[@CShellyProductions]

It's hard to be the supreme leader.

[@johnbates9467]

Need to have a movie after this guy..

[@cliffordkerslake8165]

This could’ve been a movie

[@SM-xt5gl]

Paul Shaffer before he lost the next election and got the Letterman gig .

[@ShowingYouOnline]

Lol This guy is a rare breed.

[@001spring]

Thankfully

[@johnnyyuma8219]

We had a bunch of rich people in council that only helped their own and screw the rest of the people ,they thought they owned the city and thought they would use him as their puppet ,,THEY WERE WRONG,,Everyone on that council was a dirty shirt,,,He put them in their place .Best Mayor this city ever had.He was a peoples Mayor ,,not in it for himself .

[@bbadlar3]

hmmm...reminds me of a certain someone south of the border that called everyone's bluff.

[@donrotten4791]

I’ve noticed the same here in Alberta. Drumheller town council does sketchy things as though they don’t care if it’s obvious. They just did a flood mitigation where they bought small houses ($200grand each), kept them heated and empty all winter. It’s not what the money was meant for. But they do dumber things than that. There seems to be no accountability.

[@kamalindsey]

People who space their comments with ,, are the worst kind of people.

[@judyannjensen5171]

Omg golden, I haven’t lived in TB for 13 years and this pops up?! Must be because I was looking up federal govt stuff. And the fact this is on a hometown boys channel is mind blowing.🤯I’m a KLer and moved back after leaving TB. Im not even a subscriber, I am now!!!.

[@jordanmorris5827]

Hey I'm from Thunder Bay. West fort to be specific. What does KL stand for? Is it Kamloops, or am I way off.

[@jonnywishbone17]

@@jordanmorris5827 Kirkland Lake - fun little town

[@edgarfoerster9831]

@@jonnywishbone17 it is a nice little town. I have kin there. Good fishing.

[@donnydonnybrook8131]

You're a grown up, you should be able to help it.... This is some classic comedy

[@jamesglenn2006]

This guy was awesome, he's literally ready to throw down with any of these guys. Lol He's so done with the do nothing politicians. "Don't come to my defense, I don't give a damn about any of you"

[@billyfouronesix]

But nobody was trying to defend him.

[@jamesglenn2006]

@@billyfouronesix If you were listening, one of the members says to him. " I got your back" or something to that effect to which he replies that sentence. Maybe clean your ears. 😳

[@orion7741]

no this guy was NOT "awesome" he is the pure definition of corrupt politicians. he was corrupt to the core, and he bullied everybody and threatened violence to anybody that did not agree with him. he is the Canadian version of Trump......

[@fpscanada3862]

@@orion7741 oh you mean don trump? the most peaceful president in decades? the one that gave more minorities a job than any other one in years? Yea he was such a violent animal right? fuking pathetic lol

[@hankhill5616]

Rofl

[@freecanadianshadowbanned4954]

This guy is an absolute beast; I wish we could timewarp this cat to current day House of Commons.

[@vk6832]

They'd scream and yell about him being a White supremacist

[@michaeljohn9263]

@@vk6832 Well now that it's 2022 some of these "men" can run to the safety of the men's washroom where they now have tampon dispensers. Who knew the entire world would be upside down and sideways in 41 years since this Masterpiece was taped? #ClownWorld

[@michaeljohn9263]

We need 3 Walters to get this hellhole town back in shape!

[@dalegribble60]

add a couple more and we MAY just get there!

[@proudcanuck]

We need some Walter's to get our country in shape

[@brucepappas8171]

And Hooterville mall is still a failure.

[@charlesdarwin7253]

This needs some tender love and care from a video editing process.

[@daktarioskarvannederhosen2568]

i think the way it is adds to its flavour.

[@BBC600]

Yes, it should be seen in the highest quality this tape can produce. It's awesome!

[@Ghoststalker777]

Looks like Owen Sound council April 2021

[@JonathanVachon777]

Need more politicians like this

[@infotrad]

No. We don't need insane dictators

[@johnpatterson4272]

Doesn't it make you feel good??? Nothing like a good bitch-slap of a socialist to make the record straight.

[@papafrank1301]

@@johnpatterson4272 people like you are usually the biggest bitches of them all that fall the hardest

[@johnpatterson4272]

@@papafrank1301 I take it you don't like white people. So fv_k you.

[@papafrank1301]

@@johnpatterson4272 haha i dont like white people because i think this guys a psycho? tough talk from a little girl.

[@o2kala649]

Why isnt this a movie.

[@getupandgetgoing]

I have absolutely no idea how this came on my recommended videos, but damn I'm glad it happened

[@iamjohnthelawnguy697]

I notice Alderman Dick Waddington in the video. He was such a great guy. He coached little league in Current River for years. Some of my best memories of Coach Waddington taking our team by van on an 18 day tour to Arkansas. Played a lot of ball and met some great people. I forget exactly what year it was the mid 80's

[@johnnieireland2057]

How did i stumble upon this, and how did I never know about this before hahah

[@jasepol7284]

This guy is great. Please upload more.

[@jonnywishbone17]

I wish I had more!

[@AnnaLVajda]

They've made a failure of Victoriaville and have had to have a bunch of business men come in and they are even trying to retard them from doing their duty is what I've gathered from this.

[@johnpatterson4272]

The Mob is big in Thunder Bay.

[@ericwickman920]

Victoriaville RIP I saw Willow at the theatre there!

[@Pattern51lover]

Lol read this just as he was saying it

[@Dwightstjohn-fo8ki]

@@johnpatterson4272 iT'S been a PORT town and rail head forever, so no surprise.

[@lucasbibby1982]

Most well paved, well maintained street in town - new curbs and sidewalks, the works, is named... Wait for it.... Syndicate.... You tell me whose running the town???!!

[@daktarioskarvannederhosen2568]

The more i view this video the more i become convinced of its being among the very best videos on youtube.

[@shofiahmed9543]

What a mayor!!! we need someone like him in Tbay rn.

[@welderman5844]

I think I just fell in love with this man . Give em hell Mr mayor

[@Spencer-ym5lx]

this guy is fire

[@HardRockMiner]

I've been to Thunder Bay. The buildings outside these windows must be a painting. Its was a 1 horse town in 1981.

[@shaundis2117]

I`m from BC and never heard of this guy before . The Algorithm brought me here and im glad for it

[@neely88]

Jackie Gleason from, Smokey and the Bandit! Awesome

[@LeonMortgage]

Wow, you can tell he's upset with the way things have been done. I wish we had more politicians that passionate here. So much theft takes place with apathy.

[@morningstar3437]

Coming from Lew later clips

[@jaykatcher1769]

O Wally we need you now!!!

[@jaykatcher1769]

That’s when Thunder Bay was braggable,, Wally was great 👍...

[@johnq2068]

How this got into my feed I have no idea but wow is this guy great!

[@jeffreyskinner7167]

We need a clone of him to put Thunder Bay back on the Map .🇨🇦

[@charlesp8245]

Awesome 👌, we need this here now.

[@ChilledSon]

What a gangsta. Rocking the shades inside, I love it.

[@savvycee9154]

You can make a million memes out of this lol 😂

[@8JFJK8]

5:08 “i dont want you to take it back because you dont know what youre talking about. Just SHUTUP.”😂

[@timdunlop1721]

I can’t believe it took from KZbin inception until June 2021 before this was recommended to me. I must be almost finished KZbin.

[@jamessamos7543]

We need him in every city in the world! Great man!

[@davidstein1376]

Telli it to Franco.

[@jaworskij]

I had an Uncle Walter, my Dad's Polish Uncle. I had an apartment neighbour Walter, who is like a grandpa to me. The apt. neightbour Walter would speak like that to WRHA and others. He built bridges in Vietnam in the early 60s and ended up with PTSD...Hell, when you build something and someone tears it up, that's gonna do something to someone's mind. So my guess, is that Mayor Walter had some sort of PTSD condition some sort of mental health issues that back then were unaddressed. Walter Energy = Tell it like it is. No BS.

[@MrKurty98]

That is super cool, I feel that Canada hardly gets the respect that thousands of canadians were involved in the vietnam war. Over 30 thousand volunteered for combat, not too many documentarys say that.

[@jasoncarlisle3453]

This is how it should be done. 2021 should learn from this.

[@DavidRostie]

Gold

[@ethierguillaume]

Pure rage ! I might learn some quotes by heart.

[@garychristian1649]

He fought to ensure taxpayers money was being spent they way it was suppose to. Not what we have here today. Sure he was annoying, but he made people listen and listened to the people that;s why was major for such a long time. He took no BS from council members who had their own agendas. He believed you worked for the people not the privileged.

[@aaroncrowe2783]

This stuff is Golden...

[@TheRantingCabbie]

Jeez, all this guy needs is a beret and he's all set.

[@iremo1977]

😀😀😀😀😀 sawed off shot gun instead this guy would have given Cow boys run for their money

[@wolfie316781]

A man doing man stuff a rare thing indeed

[@LogicalError007]

I have to come see this again after Lew podcast.

[@BigBennKlingon]

Assef is the answer to the question: 'What would happen if Donald Trump and Archie Bunker raised a child together?'

[@niklavorato]

Awesome, thank you @Jonathan Wilson

[@cliffordlevy3918]

So many great quotes

[@whenibecamethesun..8759]

this is awesome

[@probayoumi6071]

wonderful stuff man , we need more, where could I find these fierce hurricanes in the internet ?

[@johnstandup8162]

The greatest Mayor in world history! 🤣🤣🤣🤣 He’s awesome!

[@yes-uy5un]

if only he were still mayor now, love this dude

[@johnpatterson4272]

'He' will never happen again. It's a sad day for Canada.

[@papafrank1301]

guys a psychopath

[@yes-uy5un]

@@papafrank1301 but BOY is he funny!!!

[@papafrank1301]

@@yes-uy5un ok? Being funny isn't a qualification

[@billyfouronesix]

Do you like Putin as well?

[@AbitibiMac]

This is pure gold! Please tell me there`s more!

[@mike4food]

This guy is just like Ralph Klein

[@CHodgy]

Except Ralph took briefcases

[@Gabe-df3js]

Yea, where's Ralphie's old videos!

[@carolemaywintermute9773]

Well how many of you who are making judgements and comments were actually around at the time and knew what was happening behind the scenes? He was elected because he didn't take any bs and spoke his mind-not exactly politically correct but he stood up for the taxpayer and you could walk into his office anytime and tell him your opinion. He had a great heart and helped many in his time, there is more to this than meets the eye and unless you know the circumstances you will not understand this. Did you actually listen to what was said. Procedure is one thing but standing up for the taxpayer is what the mayor is supposed to do and if others are not doing the same then thank goodness someone had the guts to speak up. Typical we are given only part of the circumstances and left to assume the rest. Not necessary a model meeting or procedure but might not be what you are thinking either.

[@unenutero4389]

I find people "who don't take any BS and speak their minds" are usually total idiots.

[@carolemaywintermute9773]

Again how much are you assuming without full knowledge of the circumstances. I stated my opinion and you may assume yours.

[@carolemaywintermute9773]

As I said often you only get to see or know part of the story and you assume you can make judgements from part information. You know what they say about people who assume... well I find people who assume things are also idiots or too lazy to find out both sides of the story. sorry you have your opinion and I mine. I knew him and was around then, sometimes its ll politics.

[@JetlifeLetty2123]

True, but how can the facts be disputed? Paints a pretty awful picture.

[@jaworskij]

I was watching CBWT-TV 24Hours. Wonder if they covered this guy.

[@jakejhons5138]

Imagine what he does and say when the camera is not on.

[@hugemedic]

I love this guy

[@davidjackowski4336]

4:09, well I think that constitutes a threat...

[@jonnywishbone17]

but then Joe welcomed it - "I wish you would"