Many seem to have forgotten Monday is Terry Fox Day

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This article was published 30/07/2015 (3434 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Terry Fox is known for his cross-Canada run for cancer, his hop-stepping gait and his humble nature.

What he’s not known for is his new namesake holiday.

Monday is the first official Terry Fox Day in Manitoba, but its introduction has been so low-key that most people are still calling the day off by its old, humdrum name — civic holiday.

“I’m hearing nothing,” said Ace Burpee the 103.1 Virgin Radio host. “I don’t know how it sort of went awry, but I mean nothing… Maybe it just takes time for us to get used to something.”

Last summer, on Terry Fox’s birthday, Burpee took to Twitter to suggest the civic holiday be renamed for the Canadian icon, born July 28, 1958, in Winnipeg. That sparked a brief campaign on social media and three days later the provincial government announced it would introduce legislation proclaiming the first Monday in August Terry Fox Day.

The legislation came into force last month. But unlike Louis Riel Day, Terry Fox Day hasn’t caught on in a hurry, said Burpee. Fox has been absent from most conversations he’s heard about the upcoming long weekend.

Local institutions such as the University of Winnipeg, Polo Park Shopping Centre and Assiniboine Credit Union are still referring to the civic holiday on their websites. Even recent stories in the Free Press have called Monday the civic holiday instead of Terry Fox Day.

“We are sincerely touched by the recognition and believe it will help our efforts encourage greater participation and support for cancer research in Terry’s name,” said Darrell Fox, Terry’s younger brother and a senior adviser to the Terry Fox Research Institute.

But there’s some quiet concern the new holiday will get confused with the Terry Fox Run Day, which has always been in September. Along with several other provinces, Manitoba legislated the second Sunday after Labour Day as Terry Fox Run Day. That’s Sept. 20 this year, the day hundreds will gather at Assiniboine Park for the fun-run that’s raised millions for cancer research.

In 1980, Fox, with one leg amputated, initiated his Marathon of Hope to raise money for cancer research. The spread of the disease forced him to end his race near Thunder Bay, Ont., after 143 days. He died nine months later.

Provincial Health Minister Sharon Blady is hosting a press conference today at the Manitoba Legislature to unveil a photo of Fox and a letter of his, to be displayed near the grand staircase. That may help raise awareness about the name change.

But Burpee said Winnipeg has always been a little shy to claim Fox as its own, even though he spent his first eight years in the city. Ten years ago, the River East-Transcona School Division declined to rename Fox’s elementary school, Wayoata Elementary School, after him, and in 2013 the local Terry Fox Run was nearly cancelled for lack of a volunteer organizer and participants. Burpee and fitness expert James Follette stepped in to rescue the race.

Burpee said he’s sure Terry Fox Day will become second nature to Manitobans, in part because Fox is so widely respected. It may just take many small changes by many people before it catches on.

“It will have a life, no question,” said Burpee.

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