Ontario Invests $319K to Upgrade Terry Fox Monument and Visitor Centre in Thunder Bay

The Ontario government is investing $319,423 through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation to help improve the Terry Fox Monument and Visitor Centre in Thunder Bay.

The funding will support upgrades to the iconic landmark, including repairs to the visitor centre roof, improvements to walkways, trails and landscaping, new visitor amenities, interactive displays, and restoration work on the 30-year-old monument.

The site attracts more than 100,000 visitors annually from across Canada and around the world. Officials say the improvements will preserve Terry Fox’s legacy, enhance accessibility and safety, and strengthen tourism in Northwestern Ontario.

After being diagnosed with bone cancer in his leg in 1977, Terry Fox decided to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. His Marathon of Hope began in 1980, during which he ran an average of 42 kilometres a day for 143 days before ending his run in Thunder Bay in September 1980.

Government officials said the investment will help ensure the monument continues to inspire future generations and remains a major destination for visitors.