Gus Harris

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Augustus John (Gus) Harris (Born July 1908 Liverpool, United Kingdom - died February 20, 2000) was a Canadian politician. He was the mayor of Scarborough, Ontario from 1978 to 1988.

He was first elected to Scarborough Township council following World War II, and was elected reeve of the township in 1956. He served on the Board of Control when the township became a borough and then a city.

Although he was a relatively conservative, pro-development mayor, Harris' political roots were in the labour movement, the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation and the New Democratic Party. He was also progressive on social issues calling for gay rights at a 1979 human rights rally.

Harris never accepted financial donations to his political campaigns from any source so that he would not be captive to any interests. Shortly before the nomination deadlines for the 1988 municipal elections in Ontario, Harris announced he would not seek re-election as mayor, and was officially succeeded by Joyce Trimmer as mayor, in early December 1988.

Although retired from active politics, Harris occasionally spoke on various municipal issues in the late 1980s and early 1990s, such as transit concerns and the proposal for the potential amalgamation of Metropolitan Toronto.

Preceded by:Ken Morrish - interim

Mayor of Scarborough 1978-1988

Succeeded by: Joyce Trimmer