The hometown of national hero Terry Fox will mark the 45th anniversary of the start of his epic Marathon of Hope by opening a new exhibit in his name.
On Saturday, April 12, the City of Port Coquitlam will launch the Terry Fox: Inspiring Local Champions display at the Port Coquitlam Community Centre (2150 Wilson Ave.). The unveiling is at 11 a.m.
The permanent exhibit, which is in partnership with the Fox family and the Terry Fox Centre, will include memorabilia from Fox’s historic cross-country run in 1980 to raise money for cancer research — a disease that took his leg, then claimed his life in 1981. Fox is buried with his parents at the Port Coquitlam cemetery.
Among the objects to be showcased are Fox’s:
- spare prosthetic leg
- an Adidas running shoe
- a Marathon of Hope T-shirt
- artifacts from Port Coquitlam Secondary (now called Terry Fox Secondary)
There will also be a slider screen on the lobby wall, detailing the timeline of Fox’s fundraising journey, that visitors can touch to learn more.
And surrounding the Fox exhibit will be images of other Port Coquitlam sporting champions and community builders who have also demonstrated resilience, determination and hometown pride. These PoCo Sport Hall of Famers include:
- Chris Rinke (wrestler)
- Dan Payne (football)
- Michelle Bowyer (lacrosse)
- Tina Racine Connelly (track and field)
- Mary-Anne Walz (softball)
"We believe that Terry's personal and Marathon of Hope memorabilia will be able to communicate Terry's story of hope, courage and determination while inspiring future generations to chase and capture their goals and dreams,” said Darrell Fox, who was on the Marathon of Hope with Fox's friend Doug Alward to support his brother. "We are both proud and thankful that the City of Port Coquitlam has recognized our brother and uncle in this meaningful way."
To celebrate the exhibit opening and the city’s history in excellence in sports, the municipality will install 290 new street banners in late March; the banners will be up in the downtown core and around the city for a year.
“The PCCC exhibit and the banners throughout the city embodies the spirit of community that Terry Fox championed,” Coun. Nancy McCurrach, the arts and culture and heritage liaison, added in a news release. “We are excited to share these stories with residents and visitors alike, and to provide an interactive and engaging experience that truly celebrates the spirit of Port Coquitlam.”
Funded by the Government of Canada, the exhibit follows news last December that Fox will be on the new $5 bill.
The next Terry Fox Run will be held on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2025. To donate to the Terry Fox Foundation, visit the organization's website.
To see the opening of Terry Fox: Inspiring Local Champions, go to PCCC on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at 11 a.m.
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