Career
Beavis became an alderman in 1961 in the city"s ward 1 (Ward 8 1974-1985, Metro Ward 8 1985-1988) for Riverdale, Toronto. 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.
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 lost his council seat to NDP candidate Marilyn Churley in the 1988 municipal election. Beavis died of pneumonia on July 11, 1997 at Street Michael"s hospital.
Their grandson, Michael Hainsworth, is a broadcast journalist.