Campbell roast will take shots for a good cause

By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on April 9, 2025.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

Since landing his first radio job in 1974, Mark Campbell has become one of Lethbridge’s most recognizable faces and voices.
From his years on radio, television and theatre stages and doing the City’s business in council chambers, Campbell’s name is almost  synonymous with Lethbridge.
And next week, Campbell will be in the spotlight once again as the subject of a charity roast at the German Canadian Club with proceeds  going to the Canadian Mental Health Association.
The Roast of Mark Campbell runs April 11 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $40 apiece but guests can come earlier for dinner at an extra charge before the entertainment starts.
Campbell selected the charity when organizer Brian Dawydiuk approached him, the idea which first came up a couple of years ago.
Dawydiuk, a local teacher and stand-up comedian, asked Campbell what charity he wanted to support and he chose  the CMHA for numerous reasons including the burnout first responders, nurses and others experience and the importance of mental health for all people, including children.
“I’m glad they asked me what I wanted to raise money for and that’s one at this time of my life I think is a good one,” said Campbell in a  phone interview.
Campbell has not set any expectations for the amount he’d like to see raised but points out the venue seats a couple of hundred people.
“It’s a fun thing to do and if we can raise a few bucks that’s great. I think it should be a fun night.”
A couple of comedians will be performing at the roast, where Campbell will be joined by five close friends including Ken Rogers, Paul Kingsmith, Dave Mikuliak, George Gallant and Tony Dimnik, who studied  radio arts with Campbell in 1973.
“I was apprehensive, I didn’t know what to expect in the beginning,” said Campbell. “Also I was thinking ‘do people still know who I am?'”
He said the fact it’s a charity fundraiser and good friends will be joining him “makes it that much better.”
Dawydiuk, who has been doing comedy for about seven years and has previously hosted a couple of similar roasts, said Friday he asked Campbell because when he thinks of Lethbridge, next week’s target is one of the city’s most prominent citizens.
He actually approached Campbell about the idea at a barbecue two summers ago and then got in touch again after the venue became  available.
“He’s done so much for the community,” Dawydiuk said of Campbell.
The roast will take the same approach as the ones that people have seen on television or Netflix, but not to the same extreme. The material will be more playful in nature, he said.

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