The Order of the Spirit Catcher awards, held Wednesday night at the Southshore Centre, honoured two deserving individuals who’ve given back selflessly to the Barrie community.
William Dwyer is 93 years old and has raised over $860,000 for the Terry Fox Run Barrie and has 38 years of helping people.
“I watched Terry go across this land on one leg and I was in good shape, so I thought to myself, if he can raise money on one leg, surely to heavens I can raise money on two,” said Dwyer.
“After he couldn’t run anymore, I got involved and have been doing it ever since," he added. "I’m at around $865,000 or so and I want to reach $1 million before too long, as I’ll be 94 years old in three months and may not have much time left.”
Dwyer was enjoying the night with the many family members who were on hand to honour him, but said he was missing out on some whom he missed dearly; their deaths just make him work that much harder.
“I lost two of my sons to cancer and my wife to Parkinson's; that’s a bad one, too,” he said. “I do that walk for Parkinson's, but can’t walk too much anymore.
"Certainly, it made me go a little harder when they passed, but I’ve been going at it strong for a long time.”
BarrieToday asked Dwyer what he did in his spare time, to which he answered he sold poppies for the legion recently and tomorrow he’ll be at the No Frills on Wellington Street for the Salvation Army.
Asked again about his spare time the soon-to-be 94-year-old had to think for a few seconds before answering.
“I don’t really know about that,” said Dwyer. “I like to read a little, I suppose, check up on a little bit of news and catch a few hockey or baseball games.
"I’ll have a beer every now and then, but there’s no time for a sex life. Maybe in a week or so I can get back to that.”
Dwyer’s son, Ron, was there to see his dad accept his well-deserved award. The middle child of seven said it truly means so much to the family to see their patriarch being recognized.
“It means a lot, because we all know dad has worked so much over all his years. He’s seen a lot and did a lot and it is good to see him recognized by so many,” said Ron Dwyer. “He’s enjoying being out with us all and getting to see everyone, but trust me, he’ll be hitting people up to give money before the night is over.”
As his father gets closer to 94, Ron says he doesn’t worry too much about his dad, as this is the only life he’s ever known and it wouldn’t do any good to try to get him to slow down anyway.
“There’s no point in telling him to take it easy. He’s a stubborn but friendly old Newfoundlander, so he’s not going to stop going hard,” said Ron Dwyer. “He’s been working since he was 12 when his dad passed away at age 35, so it’s all he knows.
"Dad did two years with the British Army and when the Second World War was over, he got out and came home to Newfoundland and, with no work anywhere, he joined the Canadian military and did 25 years with their artillery," Ron added. "He got out of that in 1967 and then worked another 20 years as a civilian driver on Base Borden.
"So, no, he’s never stopped and likely never will.”
With six sons and one daughter with his late wife, Ellen, and 12 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren, William Dwyer has lots of people lending him a hand, but he continues to want to lend a hand to others and will be now raising money for the Salvation Army Christmas Kettles until Christmas Eve.
Dwyer finished the interview exactly how many said he might: still trying to raise money for Terry Fox Run Barrie.
“I’m happy about the award, for sure. It’s very nice, but I’d rather get that money,” said Dwyer. “Well, you’re out and about all the time with the news, aren’t you? You must know some people who can give and help me get to $1 million.
"What do you have on ya? I’ll take it.”
Jake Vaz, who was unable to attend because he's studying at Queen’s University, won the Young Spirit Catcher Award for mentoring youth on how to play chess and his volunteer work at the Salvation Army and Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre.
