Thunder Bay Unseen

Superior History

Terry Fox Monument

In September of 1980 a remarkable Canadian story came to an end on the shoulder of Highway 11/17 just outside of Thunder Bay. Terry Fox was forced to end his Marathon of Hope as the cancer which had claimed his right leg had spread to his lungs. A remarkable young athlete, Terry had run almost half way across Canada (Starting at St. John's, Newfoundland), a feat not attempted before on the scale that Fox had achieved. It was amazing in that Fox, his left leg amputated, had run 42km each day of the run - the standard length of a modern marathon - every day since he started his run on the 12th of April, 1980. In 1981 the Ontario Government, colaborating with the City of Thunder Bay, built a monument to the achievement of this amazing Canadian overlooking the city very near to the spot where he was forved to end his run. As the highway was expanded the monument was moved across the road and a full service tourist information centre was built on the site. The resulting site serves as a spectacular memorial to the courage of this amazing Canadian.

The monument currently sits atop a cliff overlooking both the harbour as well as its former home alongside the TransCanada Highway, which has been renamed the Terry Fox Courage Highway along this stretch between Nipigon and Thunder Bay.
The statue of Terry Fox stands over 8 feet tall, atop the granite base. It was sculpted by Manfred of Oakville who was moved by Fox's determination: "That boy really had something inside driving him on. I don't know what it was, but it was very strong."

The base is concrete but faced with Amethyst, the provincial gemstone, and found in great quantity in the Thunder Bay area.

Manfred of Oakville worked and reworked the original clay model of Terry Fox until "every curl was in the right place". He did a remarkable job capturing the look of determination on Fox's face which has inspired thousands to follow the example he set.

The monument bears many inscriptions, bearing witness to Fox's accomplishments, and its power in uniting Canada.

Terry Fox inspired an entire generation of Canadians with his determination and devotion and it was through his strength and commitment that he united Canadinas as they have never been united before.

It is for such a reason, this monument was designed, joining east with west, depicting all provincial and territorial coats-of-arms and the Canadian emblems of the Maple Leaf and Beaver.

As Ontario's tribute to Terry Fox's contribution to his country, this statue and monument is dedicated to his memory on behalf of all Ontario Citizens.

Officiall Dedicated June 26, 1982 by
Right Honourable Edward Richard Schreyer
Governor General of Canada
Honourable John Black Aird
Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
Honourable William G. Davis
Premier of Ontario
Honourable James Snow
Minister of Transportation and Communications
Honourable Leo Bernier
Minister of Northern Affairs

"Dreams are made. If people only try. I believe in miracles... I have to... Because somewhere the hurting must stop."

Terrance Stanley Fox
July 28, 1958 - June 28, 1981

Terry Fox inspired this nation with his dream - his Marathon of Hope - A cross-Canada run to raise money for cancer research.

This courageous young man from Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, knew only too well the ravages of cancer... because at 18 he had lost his right leg to the disease and etched in his mind was the pain and suffering on the faces of other cancer victims. Determined not to leave this 'World of Miracles" before a cure had been found, he planned his 5,300-mile marathon.

After dipping his foot in the Atlantic, he began his epic in St. John's, Newfoundland, on April 12, 1980.

Running 26 miles a day, this outstanding young athlete had conquered five provinces by the time he had reached Ontario in June. Then, at mile number 3,339, near this very site, recurring cancer forced him to give up his run.

"It feels good to give," he told the people of Ontario who responded wholeheartedly to his courage and his dream, and through his perserverance in the face of overwhelming odds, he inspired an outpouring of immense national pride and a flood of $24 million for cancer research.

To the people of Ontario, Terry gave us pride - pride in having known him and, briefly, sharing his dream.

To every Canadian, he left us his challenge - A challenge each of us will meet in our own way.

Companion of the Order of Canada
"They Desire a Better Country"

Terry Fox never understood why Canadians honoured him with so many awards.

Governor General Edward Schreyer invested Terry Fox with this nation's highest civilian award, September 19, 1980.

The youngest companion of the order, awarded to Canada's Heroes, Terry Fox shared the honour, accepting it, as he said, "For all the people who have cancer and all who made my run a success."

In addition, Terry was named "Canadian of the Year" in 1980 and 1981, and winner of the Lou Marsh Award for Canada's Outstanding Athlete of 1980.

On August 29, 1981, he was posthumously inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.

He was also presented with the Province of British Columbia's highest honour, the Order of the Dogwood.

And from the American Cancer Society, he received their prestigious Sword of Hope.

In addition, from the Cnadian Cancer Society he was awarded the Terry Fox Citation of Honour.

The bronze statue was designed and sculpted by Manfred of Oakville.
This granite memorial was designed, manufactured, and erected by the Ontario Monument Builders Association June 1982.

The base of the monuement inscibed with a map of Canada which people toss money onto for luck or as a donation of sorts. On the arch above the map map are each of the provincial and territorial coats of arms from 1982.

When the Terry Fox Monument was moved accross the highway a brand new Visitor Center was constructed to serve visitors to the site and the city. It is open year-round.

Built with an emphasis on using materials found in Northern Ontario the building features a large amount of stone, of which the walls are comprised, and wooden shingles on the roof.

The centre seems to merge with the surrounding environment when viewed from behind. It is perched right near the edge of an outcropping on the Canadian Shield.

Across the highway from the current lookout are the remains of the former monument site. The current city is quite large in comparison to the original site, which hugged the shoulder of the highway.

On the left (at top) is the former pad upon which the visitor kiosk and bathrooms were found. On the bottom is the remains of monument's base.

The monument is visible from the highway as you drive by, if you know when and where to look. The lookout and monument site directly upon the Canadian Shield, above the passing traffic.

The enormity of the Canadian Shield and its impact on the north is often lost on people, even those here in the north. At the bottom left is a waterfall, formed as the watertable pours over the edge of the impenitrable rock. The layer of earth between the stone and vegetation across the north is often quite thin - in this case it is only a few inches thick.

Lining the side of many highways in the north are small stone figures. The Inuit called them Inukshuks and were meant to guide travellers across the open, featureless lands of the north. There is probably more cultural significance to them locally given that our local native culture are the Ojibwe. If anyone knows the true story behind them, please feel free to share!

As you exit the site back onto the TransCanada highway you are greeted with this simple warning sign.

Tourists sometimes do not realize that taking plants, or even the stones from this area can be potentially damaging to the site. It has been an ongoing problem as people come across stones that "would look great in their garden at home."

Alongside the monument, slightly hidden by some trees in one of the Port of Thunder Bay's optical viewers. They are scattered throughout the city, each affording a unique view of the active and working port. They were provided on behalf of the port's industries on the 25th anniversary of the city of Thunder Bay.

On site are these incredibly large garbage cans. They are put in place for RV owners and other travellers to help keep their vehicles clean. They are so large for two facts - the first is that they don't need to be emptied as often and won't fill up so quickly; the second is that they are large and deep which keeps bears and other wildlife from visiting the site on a regular basis.

The Lake Superior Binational Forum's purpose is to promote a environmentally sound agenda for the Lake Superior Basin including both the reduction of pollutants and the expansion of restoration efforts. The effort is a volunteer one - formed of volunteers from both sides of the border, and all jurisdictions that border on Lake Superior.

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Terry Fox Monument