The greatest Canadian

A few years ago the CBC came up with a great contest to identify the Greatest Canadian. People were asked to submit their votes. It was a great idea and caught the imagination of Canadians.

Pierre Trudeau, Tommy Douglas, Wayne Gretzky, John A Macdonald - even Don Cherry - were among the most popular submissions.

 

I have been thinking about that contest for a couple of reasons. Firstly, we have been looking for potential names for our new ferry, and some of the ideas have focused on local, names like Vince Coleman, the heroic train dispatcher who sent a Morse code message to halt a train moments before the Halifax Explosion), William Hall, an African Nova Scotia who was our province’s first recipient of the Victoria Cross and former Dartmouth Mayor Danny Brownlow, who passed away in July. (You’ll have to stay tuned for the winning name).

 

But the other reason is the upcoming Terry Fox run. For me, Terry Fox is my greatest Canadian.

Terry was of my generation, and I recall the amazing momentum he built in 1980 when he ran for 143 days on one leg. Starting with nothing but guts and determination, he dipped his leg into the Atlantic Ocean near Saint John’s Newfoundland and set off to cross our immense nation.

 

Today, it is hard to imagine that the initial reaction to his run was completely underwhelming, but his commitment to the cause of raising money and awareness for cancer research drove him forward. Eventually he captured the imagination of a country, attracted thousands of supporters, met Bobby Orr and Daryl Sittler and raised awareness of cancer issues across Canada.

 

I can recall listening to radio reports of his progress, and talking with family and friends about an issue that I wouldn't have considered otherwise. I was proud of Terry Fox, and proud to be Canadian.  When his dream ended near Thunder Bay with more than 5300 kilometre behind him, I watched the news with my family and was overcome with emotion as he pledged to come back and complete his Marathon of Hope.

 

That was on the first day of September 1980. He died less than a year later and his funeral was carried across the country. As a 20-year-old with plans for the future and a sense of invulnerability, there weren't many things that made me cry. But I cried on that day. And I was one of many, probably millions of Canadians, who felt a complete sense of loss.

 

During his run Terry raised just under two million dollars - a week later more than $10,000,000 was raised in a day for his foundation. Each year tens of millions are raised from  Annual Terry Fox runs that take place throughout the world. Approximately two thirds of a billion dollars have been raised in the name of Terry Fox.

 

In 2005, I was in Seoul, Korea attending meetings of the Asia Pacific Economic Conference, as a Member of Parliament. Somebody from the Canadian Embassy asked me if I would be available to attend the Terry Fox run the next day. I was able to change flights and stay for the run. There were over 3000 people who showed up on that day, half a world away to honor the memory of that great Canadian and raise money to fight cancer. How many Canadians, how many citizens of the world have such an impact?

 

For years loyal volunteers like Dartmouth’s Graham Coleman have been organizing runs. People like Joe Robichaud who had most of leg amputated in the1960s inspire runners (and run himself ) when he speaks of progress made in the fight against cancer and JC Douglas shows up year after year to make the event happen.

 

I think often of that summer of 1980. If Terry Fox were alive today he would be 55 years-old. He likely would be a fit man and likely would have made a big difference in the life of our country. But he didn't live. And he will forever be a valiant hero, a young warrior with a brave smile who refused to be beaten by cancer, even as it took his life. He is an icon, a champion, and someone we can all be proud to call Canadian. In fact to many of us, he is the greatest Canadian.