A Northern Hope

This saga begins in Scotland in the late 1870s where crushing, nation-wide unemployment develops. It follows William Ferris who at age 18, enlisted in the British army. In 1899, during the Boer War, his regiment was sent to South Africa, where William was wounded. He was discharged in 1902 as “physically unfit for duty,” at a time before there were any veteran’s benefits. As unemployment remained high in Scotland, he immigrated to Canada in 1903, hoping to build a better life. William settled in Cobalt, a remote, isolated, Northern Ontario community that was in the grip of one of the world’s largest discoveries of silver. His brave fiancée, Rachel Johnston, followed him to raise a family as a pioneer and through William’s service during WWI. They moved to Toronto in 1928 only to be embroiled in the Great Depression and WWII. But despite struggling through the greatest turmoils of the 20th century, Canada became their Northern Hope, where they realized their dreams. Their story is illustrated with over 400 photographs, many that have never been published before.Canada became their Northern Hope, where they realized their dreams. Their story is illustrated with over 400 photographs, many that have never been published before.