Mario Ferri

Mario Felice Ferri (Italian pronunciation: [ˈmaːrjo ˈfɛrri]; born January 6, 1948) is an Italian-Canadian community organizer, activist, municipal and regional councilor of Vaughan, Ontario.

[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.

[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] 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.

[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.

[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.

[66][67] 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.