Provincially-based sculptor Luben Boykov has been hired to create a statue of Terry Fox for the Terry Fox Mile 0 Memorial Site in St. John’s.
The federal government announced in September that $250,000 would be provided for the statue — to be a representation of Fox dipping his foot into the water where his Marathon of Hope started in 1980.
MP John Baird announced Boykov’s selection as the sculptor for Fox’s statue today. "Having a statue of Terry Fox at the location where he began his historic Marathon of Hope will provide Canadians with a place to connect with him and his incredible journey," Baird said.
"The statue this artist will produce will inspire and help us all find hope in the important lesson that Terry taught us all - that ordinary people can have extraordinary courage and determination and with that, accomplish remarkable things."
A committee that included representatives from the City of St. John's, Parks Canada, the St. John's Port Authority and the Terry Fox family reviewed proposals for the commission.
"There were many significant Marathon of Hope moments and locations as Terry ran across Canada in 1980 though there is only place where Terry took his first step," Darrell Fox stated in a news release on Boykov’ selection. "Based on Luben's past work and the Terry Fox Mile 0 submission we are confident he will capture the significance and excitement of the moment when Terry began his journey."
Plans to enhance the memorial site in St. John’s also have landscaping, signage and a Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada commemorative plaque, recognizing Fox as a person of national historic significance, in the works.
More information on the site is available at: www.parkscanada.gc.ca
