'An international hero': Design unveiled for Terry Fox mural on 缅北强奸's Rehabilitation Sciences Building
The design for a Terry Fox mural that will grace the University of Toronto's Rehabilitation Sciences Building has been selected by a panel that includes the Canadian hero鈥檚 younger brother and niece.
The winning submission, by Toronto artists Alexander Bacon and Que Rock, depicts Fox smiling and waving. The mural's colours symbolize the different types of cancer research supported by the Terry Fox Foundation, while an image of a bison pays homage to Fox's M茅tis heritage. The word 鈥渉ope鈥 emblazoned vertically in block letters references his cross-country 鈥淢arathon of Hope鈥 to raise money for cancer research.
鈥淲e are honoured to have had our design concept selected by the Advisory Committee for this landmark commission,鈥 . 鈥淭erry Fox is an international hero, a timeless symbol of selflessness and resilience against all odds. We are so proud to celebrate this global icon through our mural.鈥
To be painted this summer at 500 University Avenue, the mural is expected to be eight storeys tall and will overlook part of the route Fox took through downtown Toronto more than 40 years ago. Upon his arrival in Toronto, he told the Globe and Mail that being a patient in a cancer ward was tougher than running across the country. "People I saw who had cancer set an example. I've got to be strong, I can't give up," he told the paper.
Fox ran 5,373 kilometres with an artificial right leg over 143 days until illness forced him to cut his journey short outside Thunder Bay, Ont.
鈥淭he University of Toronto is pleased to collaborate with the City of Toronto and The Legacy Art Project to commemorate Terry Fox鈥檚 brave journey and his legacy of inspiration and support for advanced research to fight cancer,鈥 缅北强奸 President Meric Gertler said in a statement. 鈥淭his project will enhance Toronto鈥檚 public space and provide our city with an uplifting public art installation in the heart of our city鈥檚 hospital and health care corridor.鈥
The Legacy Art Project is part of the
The selection committee included Fox's brother, Darrell, and niece Jessie Adler. In a statement, they thanked the five artists who submitted designs and noted that 鈥淎lexander Bacon and Que Rock truly captured the euphoria and power of Terry running down University Avenue to Nathan Phillips Square on July 11, 1980.鈥
Mayor John Tory, a 缅北强奸 alumnus, similarly thanked the artists who submitted designs.
鈥淓ach design was inspiring and powerful and honoured the legacy of Terry Fox in remarkable ways,鈥 he said. 鈥淐ongratulations to the artists for their winning design, which will be a wonderful tribute in downtown Toronto to the legacy of a great Canadian.鈥