Public Art
Public Art Policy
With your input, the City approved a Public Art Policy at the June 25, 2012 Council meeting. To read the policy and Staff Report, please click on the links below:
Richmond Hill Community Murals Project
The Richmond Hill Community Murals are a partnership between Richmond Hill, the Government of Canada, Community Matters Toronto, and the Bell Box Mural Project.
- Diversity and inclusion in the building of common interests and relationships
- Supporting efforts towards reconciliation of Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Canadians
- Engaging and inspiring youth to carry forward the legacy of Canada 150
- Connecting Canadians with nature and raising environmental stewardship to the level of a national consciousness
Inspired by these four priorities, the Richmond Hill Cultural Leadership Council identified two themes for the project: "Under One Sky" and "the City that Rose."
Funded by the Government of Canada
Financé par le gouvernement du Canada
Terry Fox Tribute in Ransom Park
Terry Fox is a Canadian hero. Richmond Hill honoured Terry Fox and marked the 35th anniversary of the Marathon of Hope with the unveiling of the Terry Fox Tribute on September 12, 2015.
The statue was officially unveiled by Mayor Dave Barrow and Members of Council, Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Premier Kathleen Wynne, members of the Fox family and the artists Radoslaw Kudlinski and Anna Passakas.
History
Terry Fox was diagnosed with cancer as a teenager and had his right leg amputated. Wanting to support cancer research, he went on to inspire cancer patients and Canadians alike by running across Canada to raise awareness and funding. This Marathon of Hope began on April 12, 1980 in Newfoundland, and sadly, it ended in Thunder Bay in September when Terry's cancer returned. Terry Fox passed away the following year, in 1981. Every year, survivors, supporters and citizens across the world participate in the Terry Fox Run to continue Terry's dream of finding a cure for cancer. Learn more about Terry Fox at www.terryfox.org.
On July 24, 1980, Terry Fox ran north on Yonge Street through Richmond Hill. His route took him past the spot where Richmond Hill's Terry Fox Tribute now stands in Ransom Park (Yonge and Centre St.).
On July 25, 1980, Terry returned to Richmond Hill to be presented with a cheque for $6,000 collected by Cancer Society volunteers and another $2,400 donated by Hillcrest Mall merchants.
In 2012, more than 700 residents participated in public consultations to determine the direction of Richmond Hill's Tribute to Terry Fox.
Creating the Terry Fox Tribute
We worked closely with Terry Fox's family, local residents and the Tribute artists to ensure an excellent Tribute to Terry Fox.
The Richmond Hill community chose to pursue a realistic, traditional representation of Terry Fox as our City's Tribute. As a result, artist Radoslaw Kudlinski was chosen to create the Tribute in collaboration with Anna Passakas.
Kudlinski and Passakas studied Art, Philosophy, Comparative Religion and Literature at: King's College London University, U.K., University of Toronto, Canada, Jagiellonski University and Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow, Poland. Together they form the multidisciplinary art collective Blue Republic. Their work includes installations at Pearson International Airport, World Youth Day in 2002 and winning a sculpture competition in Norway.
Kudlinski describes working on the Terry Fox Tribute:
There are not many opportunities for sculptors to create a figure of someone who is universally known. Like so many Canadians, I find Terry's example deeply moving. The sculpture I created shows him running his Marathon of Hope, a young athlete, committed to his epic undertaking of raising funds for cancer research despite losing his leg, and eventually his life to the disease. His invincibility lies in continuing despite pain, his obvious disability, and in leaving a lasting legacy. His courage and perseverance inspired, and continues to inspire countless individuals.
Terry Fox's brother, Fred Fox, took an active role in the development of Richmond Hill's Tribute. He said:
I really appreciated being a part of the artist selection process with a small panel of local community arts and culture leaders. The best thing was getting to know (Terry Fox Tribute artists) Radek Kudlinski and his partner Anna Passakas. Meeting them, seeing their passion for the project and watching their work of Terry progress over the months, I knew the right artist came out of the selection process. I briefly visited Ransom Park, the location of the Richmond Hill Terry Fox Tribute, with my brother and sister, Darrell and Judi, last fall. I found it interesting to imagine how the park would look a year later, but also what it might have been like for Terry running up Yonge Street through Richmond Hill. He was now heading north out of southern Ontario, a mental milestone of getting closer to home.