John P. Ferris (June 29, 1933 - September 27, 2015) was a politician in

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...

, Canada. He was a

Liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * a supporter of liberalism ** Liberalism by country * an adherent of a Liberal Party * Liberalism (international relations) * Sexually liberal feminism * Social liberalism Arts, entertainment and m ...

member of the

Legislative Assembly of Ontario The Legislative Assembly of Ontario (OLA, french: Assemblée législative de l'Ontario) is the legislative chamber of the Canadian province of Ontario. Its elected members are known as Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs). Bills passed by ...

from 1975 to 1977 who represented the central Ontario riding of

London South London South was an electoral riding in Ontario, Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering ...

. He was also a long time school board trustee who served as chair of London school boards in 1975 and again in 1986.

Background

Ferris was raised in

London, Ontario London (pronounced ) is a city in southwestern Ontario, Canada, along the Quebec City–Windsor Corridor. The city had a population of 422,324 according to the 2021 Canadian census. London is at the confluence of the Thames River, approximate ...

and graduated from Catholic Central High School. He was an employee of London Life Insurance before becoming a school trustee in 1971. He was married to Joan for 56 years and together they raised three children.

Politics

In 1971, he became a school board trustee out of concern for separate school funding. He said, "There was an argument going on about the continuation of separate schools. What would happen with my own kids was a concern." In 1975, he was elected as chair of the London School Board of Education. later that year, he ran as the

candidate in the 1975 provincial election. He defeated PC candidate in John Eberhard in the riding of

in what was viewed as an upset result. After winning his seat in the legislature he resigned as board chair and was replaced by Eberhard's father Richard Eberhard who was vice-chair of the board. He was named education critic for the Liberal party for the next term of parliament. In the 1977 election, Ferris lost to PC candidate Gordon Walker who retook the seat for the Conservatives. He returned to the school board in 1978 and continued in that position until he retired in 2010.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Ferris, John P. 1933 births 2015 deaths Ontario Liberal Party MPPs Politicians from London, Ontario