The Gateway of Giants is a unique and engaging public artwork that captures the spirit of Terry Fox growing up in Port Coquitlam. The artwork inspires residents and visitors to recognize and share Terry Fox’s legacy as a national hero in his hometown.
The artwork is made up of two sculptures installed along the walkway to the entrance of the Port Coquitlam Community Centre, bringing vibrancy and life to the plaza. The sculptures create a space within the plaza for people to connect, celebrate and remember where Terry began his journey as an optimistic young person in Port Coquitlam.
The artwork leads the public to the new Terry Fox: Inspiring Local Champions exhibits inside the community centre. Together, the sculptures and exhibits inspire residents and visitors, especially youth, to see themselves as capable of following in Terry’s footsteps to become champions too.
About the Sculptures
The Gateway of Giants features two distinct sculptures that celebrate Terry Fox’s journey and legacy in his hometown of Port Coquitlam.
First Sculpture
The first sculpture is an 18-foot (5.5-metre) weathered steel cut-out of Terry in a starting pose, brimming with optimism and energy.
The image is drawn from a photograph of Terry training outdoors during his university years after his amputation. Light passes through the cut-outs in the steel, casting shifting shadows on the ground throughout the day and across the seasons. The design invites viewers to look through the silhouette to the sky—encouraging reflection on Terry’s dreams, determination, and enduring inspiration.
Second Sculpture
The second sculpture is a life-sized bronze statue, just over five feet tall, depicting Terry as a young teenager. Shown walking confidently with a baseball and a school book, this figure reflects Terry as he was growing up in Port Coquitlam—optimistic, active, and full of potential. The approachable scale makes the piece especially meaningful for children and youth, who can see themselves in Terry’s early years.
Together, the sculptures create a welcoming space within the plaza for residents and visitors to connect, celebrate, and remember. Placed along the walkway leading to the entrance of the Port Coquitlam Community Centre, they bring vibrancy to the plaza and encourage people to pause—whether by touching the sculptures, taking photographs, or sitting on a nearby bench for a moment of contemplation. A bronze plaque installed on the ground provides additional context about the work.
The Gateway of Giants also serves as a symbolic entry point to the Terry Fox: Inspiring Local Champions exhibit inside the community centre, which opened on April 12, 2025. This permanent exhibit honours Terry Fox as a hometown hero, highlighting his resilience, determination, and community spirit. Through interactive displays and artifacts, visitors can explore Terry’s life and legacy. Items on display, curated in collaboration with the Fox family and the Terry Fox Centre, include Terry’s spare prosthetic leg, an adidas running shoe, and a Marathon of Hope t-shirt, alongside memorabilia from his school years. The exhibit also features an interactive Terry Fox timeline and showcases Port Coquitlam’s proud history of local champions—including Olympic and professional athletes, coaches, and community builders.
Photo Gallery
Thank you for joining us as we unveiled the two Terry Fox new sculptures — a significant moment for Port Coquitlam. We continue to share Terry's story, keep his Marathon of Hope alive, and remember his incredible determination and spirit.
About the Artist
Casto Solano is an award-winning Spanish artist with more than twenty years of experience in public art and sculpture. His work spans the globe, from streetscapes and community landmarks to installations in high-profile cultural institutions such as the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, and a Holocaust memorial in Paris.
In Canada, Solano’s sculptures can be seen in North Vancouver and Surrey. Most recently, his piece The Living Fraser River was unveiled at Surrey’s Fraser Heights Recreation Centre in November 2023.
The City of Port Coquitlam selected Solano to design and create the new Terry Fox sculptures through a rigorous international competition that involved the Terry Fox family. He was chosen for his proven ability to deliver large-scale public art projects, his skill in creating lifelike and deeply expressive works, and his collaborative approach to working with communities and families. Solano has also expressed a personal connection to Terry Fox—admiring him as an individual, a local hero, and an inspiring figure of national and global significance.
Thank You, Sponsors
Thank you to our sponsors for their support.
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Explore More of Terry Fox’s Legacy in Port Coquitlam
Terry Fox: Inspiring Local Champions Exhibit
Unveiled on April 12, 2025, this permanent exhibit at the Port Coquitlam Community Centre honours Terry Fox as a hometown hero. Through interactive displays and rare artifacts—including his spare prosthetic leg, adidas running shoe, Marathon of Hope t-shirt, and items from his school years—the exhibit connects visitors to Terry’s story of resilience and determination. An interactive timeline explores his early years in Port Coquitlam, while additional displays celebrate other local champions and community builders.
Marathon of Hope Installation
On Kelly Avenue, a giant map embedded into the pavement traces Terry’s Marathon of Hope journey. Milestones along the route are marked with interpretive signage offering an immersive way to learn about his cross-country run.
Other Places to Connect with Terry Fox
- Monuments: Statues at Terry Fox Secondary School and Hyde Creek Recreation Centre. (The Hyde Creek statue was previously located at the old Terry Fox Library.)
- Public Art: Terry is featured in the Canada 150 Mural at The Outlet in Leigh Square.
- Community Displays: Terry Fox appears on this year’s City street banners and in photographs from the Marathon of Hope displayed at City Hall (Sept. 12, 2025–Jan. 8, 2026).
- Gravesite: Visitors may respectfully visit Terry Fox’s gravesite at the Port Coquitlam Cemetery, inscribed with: “He made his too short life into a marathon of courage and hope.”