Fox Statue to Be Recast

Monday, July 23, 2007 10:29 PM

Prince George City Council has decided to have the vandalized statue of Terry Fox recast in fiberglass.

The statue was damaged last month and the damage cannot be repaired. Vandals had chopped a piece off the head, and drew symbols on the life size statue of Fox.

To have the sculpture recast in bronze would cost $23 thousand dollars, and would open the possibility of the statue being stolen for the resale value of the metal.

The RCMP have not been able to determine who was responsible for the damage.

There may be some other costs involved in landscaping or lighting to risk further damage. While Councillor Scott suggested the statue be moved to an indoor site, the Mayor said no way "That would admitting defeat, no way. It should be treated like graffitti, as soon as it happens, paint over it."

Councillor Shirley Gratton suggested the statue be raised a little higher so it is not so close to the ground, an idea Leisure Services Tom Madden says will be taken into consideration. Madden also noted that when the Chances Gaming Centre opens there will be more eyes in the area reducing the opportunity for vandalism.

Council has also agreed to increase the reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the vandalism. They agreed to increase the reward to $3,000.

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Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 10:29 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Harbinger on July 23 2007 10:40 PM

Put good ol' Terry on top of city hall. Then we can be like Winterpeg with the Golden Boy on top of Manitobas's legislature. Cool, eh? Wanna see it? Buy a brochure from city hall, then my taxes may go down.

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on July 24 2007 7:29 AM

Well I suppose Bobby Clobber the vandel will take up the challenge. I doubt Bobby has anything against Terry Fox, just the challenge of wiping that silly grin off city hall.

Posted by: whynotyou on July 24 2007 7:51 AM

IMO - any low life, brain dead, scumbag loser who has nothing better to do than vandalize the monument of someone who is a hero to many has not got the inklingiest smidgeoniest bit of any clue or idea what it would even mean to wipe the grin off anyone much less off of city hall!! Sorry Yamadoo, no offence to your comment...

This was not vandalism, it was pure stupidy in it's most vulgar form. Stupidity likely born of neglect and emotional abandonment by the long since "I can't do anything with him" irresponsible parents.

Whatever happened to video surveillance???

Posted by: Palopu on July 24 2007 6:44 PM

If Madden thinks that by having more people at the gaming centre he will have more eyes to watch this statue he is dreaming. I can vizualize a lot of people who will be losing their money and not being to happy about it. In addition the Park where this statue is, along with the front lawn of City Hall will be full of people who will be hanging around to put the touch on the gamblers and bingo players. We will have more vandalism in the area not less.

I wouldnt be suprised if someone turns in the culprit and then they both share in the $3000 dollar reward. If the damage was done by a down and outer, then you can be sure that he will do little if any jail time, wont have any money to pay a fine, so why would he care if he got caught or not.

This statue should be put to higher ground to avoid further damage, or it shouldnt be repaired. The Mayor may think he is being brave by not admitting defeat, however the difference between graffitti and the statue is $23,000.00. Not the same thing at all.

Posted by: whynotyou on July 25 2007 7:41 AM

IMO, bums and drug addicts hanging around on City Hall lawns are not likely to vandalize the property beyond the mess they leave behind. Most homeless people are harmless and when they get aggressive it is at people who are bothering them, not property, nor do they encourage run-ins with the law.

Nope, IMO the vandalism was more likely done by some "out for fun and up to no good" hooligans, possibly wandering away from one of the nearby local pubs??

Is one of the reasons there is no video surveillance outside City Hall because nobody from City Hall really wants to bear witness to what goes on after hours out there?? The homeless, the drug addicts, the night creapers - all "coming home" for the night?? What sad viewing that would make each morning.....