Terry Fox Legacy Art Project unveiled beside the Toronto Music Garden

Granite slabs in a park form Terry Fox's silhouette.

October 5, 2023, Toronto, ON — Today, Mayor Olivia Chow and Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik (Spadina-Fort York) joined Darrell Fox, brother of Terry Fox, to reveal the new public art project “We Are Shaped by the Obstacles We Face”, which commemorates the legacy of Canadian humanitarian and activist Terry Fox. Also on hand for the unveiling beside the Toronto Music Garden, 439 Queens Quay W., were representatives from the Legacy Art Project Toronto, Waterfront Toronto and the Waterfront Business Improvement Area (BIA).

Designed by artist Jon Sasaki and landscape architecture consultants DTAH, the work draws visitors along a curving, landscaped path obscured by one-storey-high, sculpted granite slabs. From the west end of the installation, the slabs appear as a single figure – the iconic silhouette of Terry Fox, mid-stride.

The granite sculptures act as an optical illusion inviting people to consider obstacles as opportunities. The design intends to inspire people to keep pushing forward and to recognize all that can be achieved with a positive perspective.

In 1980, with one leg amputated due to cancer, Terry Fox embarked on an east-to-west, cross-Canada run to raise funds for cancer research and awareness of the toll of the disease. His Marathon of Hope captivated the country and resulted in a lasting, worldwide legacy.

That legacy continues with the annual Terry Fox Run and the fundraising efforts of the Terry Fox Foundation which has helped raise more than $850 million for more than 1,300 cancer research projects.

The Terry Fox Legacy Art Project was made possible with the funding and installation support of the City of Toronto, the Government of Canada, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), the Legacy Art Project Toronto, the Waterfront BIA, the Toronto Foundation and Waterfront Toronto.

Quotes:

“We are honoured to be able to share in the legacy of Terry Fox with the revealing of this outstanding public artwork. This work embodies the dedication and creativity of multiple private and public partners who have all contributed immensely to bringing the spirit of a Canadian hero to Toronto’s waterfront – so that residents and visitors can be inspired again by hope within themselves and for each other.”

– Mayor Olivia Chow

“This artwork brings the memory and legacy of Terry Fox to life in an innovative way for waterfront communities and visitors to experience. This artwork may be stationary, but it causes us to be moved in a powerful way.”

– Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik (Spadina-Fort York)

“The Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation and the Legacy Art Project Toronto have come together to honour the legacy of a Canadian hero, Terry Fox. They have created a beautiful green space that provides an opportunity for the community to learn about our history while enjoying some time outside. The Government of Canada is pleased to be able to support projects like this that create a positive impact.”

– The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

“Our vision is that the Terry fox Park will inspire hope, encourage optimism and ignite the greatness of the human spirit. It will be a space that people need now to reflect, recover and prevail!”

– Craig Jarvis, President and Chair, Legacy Art Project Toronto

“It’s an honor to have worked with our partners in the public and private sectors to deliver this incredible project that is close to so many Canadians’ hearts. This is the latest example of the incredible spirit of civic pride and generosity that, working together with government partners, can bring to life extraordinary shared public spaces that will be enjoyed for generations.”

– Jack Winberg, Chair, Waterfront Toronto Board of Directors

“The Waterfront BIA is honoured to be part of this project that commemorates Terry Fox’s legacy in the waterfront community.”

– Kevin Currie, Board Chair of the Waterfront BIA.