The wrap up of the Terry Fox Memorial we see here is not in preparation for reconstruction but rather its permanent dismantlement. Apparently, cranes need to be located on the memorial’s current site to construct the new roof on BC Place. The decision to permanently dismantle the memorial, erected 27 years ago, is itself wrapped up in a bit of controversy. Some would like to see the memorial preserved and moved elsewhere. As well, there has been no serious public debate on the dismantlement, just consultation between PavCo (BC provincial owner) and the Fox family. They both seem happy to have local artist and writer Douglas Coupland design what is felt by them will be a more representative memorial. Coupland wrote a 2005 fundraiser book in tribute to Terry Fox and has designed a Fox Memorial in Toronto.

The original designer and architect, Franklin Allen, is not happy with his work’s demolition. He realizes that his design (supported by the late Arthur Erickson) was never very popular but felt people never really understood it either. It did have a projection system showing images of BC, and which was to serve as a tribute to Fox. However, this only worked for a few months. According to Allen, the money ran out and PavCo, who never supported the project, had no will to finish it properly. He felt it was then doomed to be a static project instead of being dynamic as he had intended.

What will be preserved and given to the Fox family are two 5 by 18 foot steel etchings on the inside walls by Ian Bateson. One is based on the iconic photo of Terry Fox running and the other is a map of Canada showing his cross country route. These panels were added over the objection of Allen because of general controversy over the memorial not being representative enough of Fox’s achievement.

Eventually we will have a new Fox Memorial and hopefully Coupland will have less controversy with his design.