A multi-million dollar renovation project at BC Place is creating a chance to give the Terry Fox Memorial Hall a fresh look, and renowned B.C. author and artist Douglas Coupland is signing on.
Warren Buckley, president and CEO of BC Pavilion Corporation, says the construction at the stadium that will see a retractable roof and other upgrades is making it necessary to take the 27-year-old memorial down. That provided an opportunity to put a new one up, he says, and Fox's family agreed.
"They wanted to ensure Doug Coupland did the piece, so we're delighted to comply with that." said Buckley.
Coupland, who rose to fame with his first novel Generation X, penned a tribute book on Terry Fox's life in 2005 titled "Terry" and also helped create the Terry Fox Miracle Mile in downtown Toronto, a running trail dotted with his artwork and a picture of Fox's prosthetic leg.
"I'm deeply honoured by the Fox family to be asked to continue his memory." Coupland said.
Coupland's sculpture, Digital Orca, was unveiled at the Vancouver Convention Centre last year and has become a favourite photo-op in the city. The Vancouver resident has also submitted the winning design for the Canadian Firefighters Memorial set to be put up in Ottawa in 2012.
A committee will review Coupland's ideas and select one that will serve as the new Fox memorial, which is scheduled to be completed along with the renovations at BC Place by next summer.
"I think it will be quite simple, I think it will be subtle, but I think it will be a true depiction of the memory we have of this very special person." Buckley said.
