Mario Ferri

Mario Felice Ferri (Italian pronunciation: [ˈmaːrjo ˈfɛrri]; born January 6, 1948) is an Italian-Canadian community organizer, activist, municipal and regional councilor and as of 2017 the current deputy mayor of Vaughan, Ontario. He also co-founded an organization credited with helping to force the closure of Canada’s largest municipal waste facility, the Keele Valley Landfill.

Mario Felice Ferri
Mario Ferri in 2010
Regional councillor & former deputy mayor
of Vaughan, Ontario, Canada
Preceded byDeputy Mayor Michael Di Biase
Succeeded byDeputy Mayor Joyce Frustaglio
In office
2014 – present
In office
1997–2010
Personal details
BornJanuary 6, 1948
Pescosolido, Frosinone, Italy
ResidenceMaple, Ontario
OccupationMunicipal councillor
City of Vaughan

At the time of its closure, the waste facility was the third-largest in North America near the heart of Vaughan, the fifth-largest city in the Greater Toronto Area. The waste landfill site became the centre of a 14-year battle between the citizens of Vaughan and both the Government of Ontario and the City of Toronto government, which owned and operated the site. Mr. Ferri co-founded Vaughan CARES, an activist group that became prominent in the fight to close the waste facility.

As a community organizer Ferri also contributed to numerous cultural organizations and helped organize large events, as well as administering community recreational facilities in Toronto, Vaughan and other surrounding communities. In his roles as a York Region Separate School Board trustee, municipal and regional councillor and deputy mayor he undertook several community campaigns and frequently acted as a spokesperson for the school board, the City of Vaughan and for York Region. In October 2014 Ferri was elected to his fifth term as a councillor for the City of Vaughan and his third term as a councillor for the Region of York, Ontario.

Biography

Ferri was born in Pescosolido, Frosinone, Italy on January 6, 1948 to Fillipo and Maria Ferri, immigrating to Canada by ship docking at the Pier 21 in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1959, soon after settling in Toronto. Ferri attended Neil McNeil High School and then entered Centennial College, graduating with a diploma in Recreation Leadership in 1970. He then attended and graduated from York University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in psychology and sociology in 1978, and a Masters of Environmental Studies mastering in Human Service Management from the same university in 1983.[1] Ferri married Vickie Lamanna in 1972 and moved to Vaughan in 1984 where he continues to live, and where he and his wife raised a family of three children.[2][3]

Early career

Ferri became the leader of the human services management advisory committee for both Centennial College and George Brown College in Toronto. He has also served as a consultant to numerous recreation facilities spanning at least 17 years. He worked as a director of the East Scarborough Boys & Girls Club in Scarborough, Ontario from 1973 until 1977, then becoming the executive director of the West Scarborough Boys & Girls Club the same year.[1] In the early 1980s Ferri helped transform the youth centre into a community centre to provide additional services for seniors.[4][5][6][7]

Keele Valley Landfill activism

Ferri's was a co-founder and a leader of the activist community organization Vaughan Committee of Associations to Restore Environmental Safety (Vaughan CARES).[8] CARES successfully challenged the Government of Ontario’s intention to extend the life of the Keele Valley Landfill in the centre of Vaughan, and Ferri helping accomplish the shutdown.[9] The group he co-founded in 1988,[10] had approximately 300 members at the time of its incorporation in 1989,[11] and 15 directors in 1990, stating it represented all the city's ratepayers' associations that covered Vaughan's 100,000 residents.[12] By 1995 its membership had risen to at least 3,000 and had already spent an estimated CAN$600,000, a cost figure that was to mushroom.[13][14] The anti-dump lobby group helped close the landfill by rallying the city’s citizens over a 14 year period.[15][16][17] Ferri served in various capacities as its vice-president,[11] president,[12] and in its chairmanship.[18]

Keele Valley, at the time the third largest waste landfill in North America, was originally set to close in January 1989, a date that was extended at least four times by the provincial government without an environmental impact assessment,[3][19][20] generating considerable anger among Vaughan's citizens,[21][22] as they had endured years of ill effects.[10][17][23][24] Ferri proposed, first as a community lobbyist in 1988, that the landfill’s life should not be extended beyond its planned closure in 1993,[25] and responded unambiguously when the province later proposed a lengthy extension well into the 21st century.[26][27] During his work with CARES he led numerous demonstrations and confronted both civic and provincial officials who sought to expand and continue the dump's operating life past its scheduled closure.[28] Continuous pressure by CARES and the City of Vaughan,[29][30][31][32] including court challenges,[33][34][35] threats of civil disobedience,[22][33][36] and large protests,[37] finally swayed the provincial government away from a further extension of Keele Valley’s operating permit,[24] and the site was closed on the very last day of 2002.[17][24][38][39]

Community and public service

Ferri helped obtain financing for and founded a number of recreational facilities for tennis and bocce, plus youth and senior’s clubs across southern Ontario.[40] He assisted in organizing community forums, surveys and public festivals.[41][42][43][44] Ferri ran for and won a seat as trustee on the York Region Separate School Board in 1990, running against a slate of 30 candidates in the Board’s Area 1 district.[2] He again ran for the trustee’s seat in 1991,[45] and also lobbied against the diversion of school construction funding to other municipalities.[3][46]

First elected to Vaughan City council as Ward 1 Councillor in the 1997 municipal election, Ferri secured 87% of the popular vote,[47] and was re-elected in 2000 with 90% of the votes.[47][48] He was then elected to York Regional Council in 2003, receiving the most votes among all regional councillors, thereby becoming Deputy Mayor (earlier called Acting Mayor) of Vaughan.[47] He was reelected to his regional council seat in 2006,[49] but was unsuccessful in his bid for reelection in the 2010 municipal election.[50] Ferri dealt with a wide variety of issues while on council,[51] and as deputy major (2003–2006),[52][53] often being quoted in local media,[54][55][56] as well as on Toronto-based national news outlets.[57][58][59] He was noticed in 1999 for being one of two councillors to opt out of retroactive salary increases that council had implemented.[60] He's also drawn criticisms, such as for a perceived conflict of interest related to the use of a community centre building where he met with constituents to consult on community issues and his nomination to regional council,[61] as well as his participation in a Santafest parade float on the eve of an election.[62]

Ferri stood for, but was unsuccessful in his bid to become the Member of Parliament in support of the Liberal Party representing Vaughan Riding in Canada’s 2011 federal election. He ran against the Conservative incumbent and future cabinet minister Julian Fantino. Despite having entered the federal election campaign late Ferri scored a second place result with over 20,000 votes, garnering 30% of the riding's popular vote among several candidates.[63][64]

In 2014 Ferri announced his candidacy to return to his former position as a local and regional councillor in York and Vaughan's October 2014 municipal election.[65] He succeeded and was elected, earning 27,647 votes and placing second among the three openings, but fell approximately 1,650 votes shy of also returning to his former position as deputy mayor.[66][67]

Recognition and awards

Ferri has been recognized for founding sports facilities plus youth and seniors clubs,[2] for which he received a Silver Keystone, Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee, and 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada awards. In 1989 he was presented with a Government of Ontario’s Corps d’Elite Award, one of five given that year, for outstanding contributions to recreation throughout Southern Ontario.[3] The Corps d’Elite was presented to him by Ontario M.P.P. Greg Sorbara, who spoke of Ferri’s work being instrumental in the development of recreation programs and facilities in both Maple, Ontario and across Southern Ontario.[1]

See also

References
  1. "Mario Ferri Receives Corps d’Elite", The Vaughan Weekly, June 6, 1990, p. 4.
  2. "Volpe, Ferri Win Board Seats", The Vaughan Weekly, October 31, 1990, p. 4.
  3. "Mario Ferri Seeking To Return To Separate School Board", The Vaughan Weekly, Vol. 9, No. 3, August 21, 1991, p. 1.
  4. Daly, Rita. "Seniors Join Kids In Crowed Centre", Toronto Star, November 15, 1983, p. 14EAST.
  5. Daly, Rita. "Club Making Survey Of Recreational Needs", Toronto Star, July 17, 1984, p. 7EAST.
  6. Donovan, Kevin. "Community Club Marks 30 Years", Toronto Star, April 1, 1980, p. E7.
  7. Infantry, Ashante. "Clubs Offer Sports and Crafts For 'Problem' Kids", Toronto Star, November 21, 1996, p. SC.3
  8. Simpson, Lesley. "Residents Protest Dump Expansion", Toronto Star, May 3, 1990, p. N5.
  9. Van Rijn, Nocolaas; Stancu, Henry. "Toronto's Laid-Back Party Attracted U.S. Fans As Well", Toronto Star, p. A.1.
  10. Powell, Betsy. Let Old Aromas Be Forgot ... : Vaughan dump closes New Year's Eve Residents to revel at base of landfill, Toronto Star, December 28, 2002, p. E1. Quote: "For us this is an historical event… It’s an end of an era and a beginning of a new era…. "When my own son was in day care right on Keele St., sometimes we had to go pick him up because he couldn’t take the smell", says Ferri. Some residents simply moved away. Others stuck around, although it meant holding their noses."
  11. Rutledge, Grace. "Vaughan CARES Incorporates To Fight Expansion Of Dump", Vaughan Liberal, July 5, 1989, p. 1.
  12. Dexter, Brian. "Extended Use Of Maple Dump Comes To Vote At Region Today", Toronto Star, January 25, 1990, p. N12.
  13. "Rae Dumped On Over 'Togetherness'", Toronto Star, April 25, 1994, p. A.8.
  14. Dexter, Brian. "Community Groups Overjoyed As Plug Pulled On Megadumps", Toronto Star, July 6, 1995, p. A.10.
  15. Edwards, Peter. "Vaughan Air Smelling Better: Residents rejoice at Keele landfill's final closing Golf course and sports fields to be built at the site", Toronto Star, January 1, 2003, p. B.2
  16. Dexter, Brian. "Tory Wheeler-Dealer In Tough Race", Toronto Star, May 19, 1995, p. NY.2.
  17. Markusoff, Jason. "Vaughan Celebrates Closing of Dump: Residents Toast Shutdown – And New Developments – With Champagne", The Globe and Mail, January 1, 2003, p. A.8.
  18. Faticante, Denise. "La Discarica Della Vergogna Mario Ferri: "Basta! Ci Sono 25Mila Cittadini A Rischio (The Landfill Of Shame: Mario Ferri: "Enough! There Are 25 Thousand Citizens At Risk)", Corriere Canadese, August 18, 1999 (Italian).
  19. Christian, Carol. "Street Dance Was In The Dumps", The Vaughan Weekly, July 10, 1991, p. 6.
  20. Ferenc, Leslie. "Dump Makeover Plan Has Smell Of Success: Vaughan sees 'Central Park' on Keele Valley site", Toronto Star, May 31, 2000, p. B3.
  21. Douris, Christopher. "Angry Residents Present Five-Point Attack On Dump", Vaughan Liberal, September 25, 1991, p. 1.
  22. Gombu, Phinjo. "Vaughan Vents Anger At Mega-Dump Project", Toronto Star, December 10, 1992, p. A6. Quote: ""Do you agree?" anti-dump lobbyist Mario Ferri asked about 1,300 furious residents who jammed St. David’s church in response to his organization’s call for a united stand... The proposed site would add another "25 years of pain and suffering," which is "completely unacceptable," Ferri said… Outrage had cooled after the initial outcry, which included threats of civil disobedience."
  23. Lee-Shanok, Philip. "Vaughan No Longer Dumped On", Toronto Sun, January 1, 2003.
  24. Yuen, Jenny. Toronto's Old Dump Slated For Parkland, Toronto Sun website, January 23, 2011, and also published in print as "Dump Finds Rebirth As Park", January 24, 2011, pp. 4-5. Quote: "This will be Vaughan’s Central Park North", said Mario Ferri, a former Vaughan city councillor who rallied with residents of Vaughan C.A.R.E.S. for the dump’s closure. "We thought it would make a great legacy to have a park…. It will be an asset."
  25. James, Royson. "Metro Drops Plan To Dump More Garbage In Vaughan", Toronto Star, July 8, 1993, p. A.3.
  26. "Vaughan Bristles As Toronto Eyes Keele Valley Operation Extension", The Vaughan Weekly, Vol. 5, No. 25, July 21, 1999, p. 1.
  27. Varley, Roger. "Dump Will Close - Period", The Vaughan Citizen, January 24, 2002.
  28. Dexter, Brian. "2,000 Turn Out To Fight Landfill", Toronto Star, November 25, 1993, p. NY.3. Quote: "Mario Ferri, president of Vaughan CARES, announced he is challenging Premier Bob Rae to a public debate on the New Democrat government's "disastrous" policy...".
  29. "Girding For Maple Dump Fight", The Vaughan Weekly, December 5, 1990, p. 1.
  30. Crook, Farrell. "Anti-Dump Protesters Knock On Rae’s Door: Tell Neighbors Vaughan Dump A Risk To Humber", Toronto Star, January 24, 1994, p. A6. Quote: "Two leaders of anti-dump protesters from Vaughan knocked on the front door of Premier Bob Rae’s Baby Point home yesterday…."
  31. Varley, Roger. "Dump Fighters Tackle Toronto", The Vaughan Citizen, c. January 2002.
  32. "Dump Rae, Group Says", The Globe and Mail, March 22, 1994, p. A.18.
  33. "Expect Civil Disobedience, Groups Say", The Globe and Mail, November 21, 1991, p. A.17.
  34. Swainson, Gail. "Councillor Irked By Toronto Snub", , Toronto Star, September 30, 1998, p. 1.
  35. "Buck The Dump To Raise Funds To Fight Metro Clay Application", The Vaughan Weekly, July 20, 1989. Quote: "Vaughan CARES is seeking to raise $15,000 through dollar contributions to the campaign, Mario Ferri, the organization’s new president, said. Mr. Ferri said the $15,000 is to pay for a lawyer to present the organization’s case against the Metro clay application. "We’re looking at some expert presentations as well for an all-out defense." "
  36. David, Jim. "Dump Opponents Prepare To Risk Civil Disobedience", Vaughan Marketplace, Vol. 2, No. 12, November 25, 1992, p. 1, circ.: 23,000.
  37. Christian, Carol. "Protesters Hit Rae’s Riding", The Vaughan Weekly, January 26, 1994.
  38. "Keele Over: More Than 700 People Gathered At Keele Valley Landfill Site In Maple New Year’s Eve To Celebrate Closure", The Vaughan Citizen, January 5, 2003, p. 1. Quote: "Vaughan C.A.R.E.S. co-chairpersons Councillor Mario Ferri and Aurelia Bertocchi stand at the Keele Valley Landfill site gates….."
  39. Henry, Michele. "Vaughan Resolves To De-Dump", National Post, January 1, 2003, p. PM2.
  40. "Maple Seeks Major Rec Facility", The Vaughan Weekly, December 12, 1987, p. 1.
  41. "Scarborough, Un Inno All’Italita", Corriere Canadese, September 22/23, 1993 (Italian).
  42. Faticante, Denise. "Consegnata la "Valigia d’Oro", Corriere Canadese, June 15, 1999 (Italian).
  43. Fitzpatrick, Richard. "Honouring Our Pioneers: Valigia D’oro Awards Remember Early Italian-Canadian Immigrants", Tandem Corriere Canadese, p. 6.
  44. Benitah, Sandie. "Vaughan's Endless Patience", Vaughan Today, MulticomMedia, May 2011, pp. 5, 8, 34.
  45. Moloney, Paul. "Parents Want Say Task Force Finds", Toronto Star, September 15, 1994, p. NY.2.
  46. David, Jim. "Battle For Catholic High School Pits Maple Against Richmond Hill", Vaughan Liberal, Vol. 114, No. 6, October 9, 1991, pp. A1, A3, paid circ.: 41,000.
  47. City of Vaughan. "City of Vaughan Past Election Results". Archived from the original on 2011-06-12. Retrieved 2014-06-10.
  48. City of Vaughan. "City of Vaughan Past Election Results". Archived from the original on 2011-06-12. Retrieved 2014-06-10.
  49. City of Vaughan. "City of Vaughan Past Election Results". Archived from the original on 2011-06-12. Retrieved 2014-06-10.
  50. City of Vaughan. "Vaughan Votes, Poll By Poll Results". Archived from the original on 2010-11-03. Retrieved 2014-06-10.
  51. Ferenc, Leslie. "Battle Lines Drawn Over Site For Vaughan's Civic Centre", Toronto Star, 2002, p. B.5.
  52. Varley, Roger. "Communication Policy 'Attempt To Control Media'", Richmond Hill, ON: The Liberal", February 1, 2004. p. 1.
  53. Gray, Jeff. "Vaughan Vote Stokes Tempers", The Globe and Mail, November 23, 2006, p. A.18.
  54. McClelland, Colin. "Support In Principle For City’s Mega Mall", Corriere Canadese, June 20, 1998.
  55. Douris, Christopher. "Drivers ‘Tricked’ Into Slowing Down", Vaughan Liberal, December 15, 1998.
  56. Christian, Carol. "Traffic Control Gets Varied Response", The Vaughan Weekly, Vol. 4, No. 49, December 12, 1998, p. 1, circ: 52,000.
  57. Swainson, Gail. Mega-mall faces traffic hurdles, Toronto Star, June 15, 1998, pp. B1, B4.
  58. Swainson, Gail. "New Assessments Taxing Historic Village", Toronto Star, September 7, 1998, pp. B1, B8.
  59. Swainson, Gail. "But Finance Ministry Says Everyone Should Have Known Facts", Toronto Star, September 23, 1998, p. 1.
  60. "Two Councillors Opt Out Of Remuneration", The Vaughan Weekly, 1999.
  61. Swainson, Gail. "Councillor Accused of Conflict of Interest: Vaughan council waives policy: Ferri's vote broke tie in his favour", Toronto Star, June 10, 1993, p. E.1.
  62. Edwards, Peter. "Cries of Humbug Over Santa Parade in Vaughan: Councillor under fire for setting date on election eve: Incumbents ride sleds before vote...", Toronto Star, October 28, 2006, p. A.6.
  63. Election 2011: Ontario, Vaughan Election Results, The Globe and Mail, May 3, 2011.
  64. Grech, Caroline; Martin-Robbins, Adam. "Fantino Happy Campaign Behind Him", The Vaughan Weekly, May 5, 2011, pp. 1, 3, 4.
  65. Martin-Robbins, Adam. It's Official: Bevilacqua Launches Bid For Vaughan's Top Job, Vaughan Citizen, September 11, 2014. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
  66. Martin-Robbins, Adam. One key change at Vaughan city hall after Monday's vote, Vaughan Citizen, October 30, 2014. Retrieved November 1, 2014.
  67. City of Vaughan 2014 Elections: Local and Regional Councillors (unofficial results), City of Vaughan, October 28, 2014.
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