Walter Melund 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.

Assef was born May 31, 1913, at Sioux Lookout, Ontario to John Hunna Khaleefy Asseff, a native of Hasroun, Lebanon, and Maria Rosa Penteado (variant spelling, Mary Penteado), a native of Brazil.

Liberace dined at the home of Walter Assef before performing at the Fort William Gardens on 30 September 1961.

Reportedly, Prince Philip coined the term, referring to him as "that jolly little mayor from Thunder Bay".

When the Community Auditorium (as it's now known) was built, Walter Assef vowed to never attend the grand opening or ever step inside.