The iconic statue of Terry Fox located in Community Foundation Park will be recast in bronze before it is moved to its new home at the downtown pool currently under construction.
City council unanimously approved spending $24,250 from the city’s Festival/Discovery Place Trust Fund to recast the statue.
The local Terry Fox Run Committee and the City of Prince George commissioned the original fibreglass statue from B.C. artist Nathan Scott in 2005.
That original statue was located at ground level and was vandalized, prompting a new fibreglass statue to be cast and placed on a raised plinth in the park.
In October of 2021, Council approved the relocation of the Terry Fox statue to the new downtown pool but at that time city staff inspected the statue and discovered that the fibreglass artwork was showing its age.
“The original artist was contacted to discuss some repair and refurbishment options,” explained Chris Bone, the city’s manager of social development.
“As a result of his advice administration is recommending the statue be recast in bronze as it is one of the most durable materials. It can withstand extreme weather, freeze-thaw cycles, and also withstand attempts of wilful damage.”
The bronze statue would be more durable and could also potentially be placed at ground level allowing people to take photos with it.
“I’ve seen statues of Terry Fox all across the country and they are typically ones of the agony, the pain, and the suffering. Prince George’s is all but unique for the moment when he realized he could do the Marathon of Hope and that statue is different from ones you see anywhere else,” noted Coun. Garth Frizzell.
Fox ran his first-ever marathon at the 1979 Labour Day Classic in Prince George.
“This is a bit of a treasure for Prince George and recasting it in bronze is suitable and is the right thing to do.”
The city has $35,373 remaining in the fund, which was created in 1986 as a legacy from hosting the BC Festival of the Arts, and city staff indicated the rest of the money in the fund is earmarked for repairing other public art projects downtown.
- with files from Arthur Williams
