The {{#if}}
helper can only test for properties, not arbitrary expressions. The best thing to do in cases like this is therefore to write a property computing whatever conditional you want to test for.
personIsJohn: function() {
return this.get('person') === 'John';
}.property('person')
Then do {{#if personIsJohn}}
.
Note: If you find this too limiting, you can also register your own more powerful if
helper.