Honouring A Hero

Officially, it's a holiday in Manitoba today as we celebrate Terry Fox Day. In honour of one of the greatest Canadians to ever have walked the Earth, HBIC is taking the day off. If I'm being totally honest, I have about a bazillion little things I want to get done, so I'm going to do some of those tasks today. Let's not forget the task that Terry Fox undertook, though, back in the summer of 1980 when he started his journey on April 12 in St. John's, Newfoundland and was forced to end his Marathon of Hope on September 1 just outside of Thunder Bay.

I'm not sure what Desmond Mills of the Ottawa Citizen was thinking when he penned his January 6, 2025 opinion column, but I'd like to stress that his opinion doesn't mean a lot when it comes to his thoughts on Terry Fox appearing on the Canadian $5 bill. In his view, "[o]ur currency should be reserved for those who built up our nation and contributed to the development of its identity and culture" which is a bold statement when one considers that Canada is tied with Australia for its World Giving Index score when it comes to being charitable - something that the world associates with Canadians.

Terry aimed to change lives for Canadians stricken with cancer with his goal. He originally set out to raise $1 million, but upped the total to $10 million and, later, aimed to raise $1 for each of Canada's 24 million citizens by inspiring people to give through his efforts. Again, this goes directly to our identity and culture of giving and looking out for one another, so I'm hard-pressed to understand how Mills missed this obvious trait in Fox. It's like Mills didn't know him at all.

Mills also tries to make a case that images on Canadian money should be for "non-political figures of renown who helped define the Canadian national consciousness or contributed or helped raise awareness for Canada on the international stage" after "stately political figures" have been honoured. Again, I'm not sure what Mills is thinking here because the Terry Fox Research Institute states that "$800 million has been raised worldwide for cancer research in Terry's name through the annual Terry Fox Run, held across Canada and around the world." I'd say that's awareness on the international stage, and Terry's name is well-known from coast to coast in Canada.

Mills tries to prove the work done by Serbian inventor Nikola Tesla is superior to the effort given by Fox, but it's an apples-to-oranges comparison. Tesla, arguably, is an important figure in Serbia and that country can put whomever they like on their banknotes. It's a false equivalency to compare what Tesla's done in Serbia to what Fox has done in Canada, especially when Mills' arguments above are specific. For the record, Nikola Tesla made all his major accomplishments while living in America, having emigrated to the country when he was 28 and becoming a naturalized citizen seven years later.

I'll concede that Desmond Mills is entitled to his opinion, and he's certainly allowed to express it. The comment section on his linked opinion piece speak loudly about what Canadians think about Terry Fox, and the vast majority believe he embodied what Canadians pride themselve to be. As one commenter suggested, having Fox on the $5 bill is more Canadian than long-dead political figures who are now, as history shows, "some long dead colonizer with blood on his hands."

Whatever your feelings are towards Terry Fox, I think I made mine clear. I have deep respect for people who put their entire bodies, minds, and spirits into making life better for others, and Terry Fox did that while he was alive. His efforts have helped millions of people around the world, raised close to a billion dollars for cancer research, and his legacy lives on today through the annual Terry Fox Run.

I've said my piece, so I'm off to get a handful of those tasks done. Terry Fox Day might be a holiday in Manitoba, but it's a good day to reflect on what it means to be Canadian in this strange world.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!