John Ferris (1910 –) was a civic and labour leader in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Ferris was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan but grew up in Sault Ste. Marie, Canada. Ferris began working in the Labour movement in the 1930s. In 1931 he formed a union of unemployed and marched on Sault Ste. Marie's city hall to demand additional relief money. He worked on lake freighters and became involved in the Canadian Seaman's Union. In 1940 he began work at Algoma Steel and was elected chief steward in 1941.
In 1942 Ferris became involved with the Algoma Steel workers joining the United Steelworkers of America (USWA). Ferris served in the Royal Canadian Navy from 1943-1945, after which he returned to Algoma Steel and was elected Vice President of USW Local 2251 in 1946. He served as Treasurer in 1956 and President from 1958-1962 and 1964-1973, when he was named Honourary President of the local. Ferris also served as Alderman for Ward 4 from 1957-1973 and then was re-elected in 1976. He seved on a variety of City Council committees and on the Transportation Commission. In 1974, Ferris was awarded the Medal of Merit by the City of Sault Ste. Marie to recognize his contributions to the community.
Ferris wrote a history of trade unionism in Algoma in 1951 titled, "Algoma Industrial and Trade Union development," and he was project leader for the book "50 Years of Labour in Algoma: Essay's on Aspects of Algoma's Working Class History," in 1978. Ferris also served on boards of the Algoma Fall Festival Association, the Children's Aid Society, James's St. Mall, as well as the River Front Phase 2 Committee. He was also a member of the Canadian Authors Association. Finally, he was a member of the Board of Management of the District of Algoma Homes for the Aged, as well as the Board of Governors of Algoma University College.
