BC SPORTS HALL OF FAME NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AFTER APRIL 5th, 2010
Due to Phase II construction of BC Place, the BC Sports Hall of Fame is not open to the public. We apologize for the inconvenience this may have caused and we look forward to being a part of the BC Place community in 2011. Please keep visiting our website for more details and learn more about our community outreach program.
HEROES GALLERIES
Terry Fox Gallery
Terrance Stanley Fox is a true Canadian icon. He exemplifies perseverance and determination. Terry was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on July 28, 1958. A life-changing event would intensify Terry’s determination to succeed.
Despite being born in Manitoba, Terry grew up in BC. In 1976, Terry began his post-secondary studies at Simon Fraser University. Nearly a year afterwards, he was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer, estrogenic sarcoma. Eventually, the doctors had to amputate Terry’s right leg six-inches above the knee. Terry immediately began to learn how to use his newly acquired artificial limb. He had to undergo chemotherapy treatment for 16 months consecutively following his diagnosis.
In February of 1979, he became determined to find a cure for cancer. On April 12th, 1980, he began his Marathon of Hope across Canada, from coast to coast (St. John’s, Newfoundland to Vancouver, BC). Terry began his magnificent journey by dipping his artificial limb into the Atlantic Ocean. During his Marathon of Hope, Terry ran 143 days before his cancer had spread to his lungs. He was forced to stop at Thunder Bay, Ontario. Terry’s dream was not lost however as within a year of his passing (June 28, 1981), the annual Terry Fox Run was established and has since raised over $380 Million (and counting). Terry Fox is the 1980 recipient of the BC Sports Hall of Fame’s WAC Bennett Award.
The BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum is truly proud to house the only permanent gallery celebrating Terry’s inspirational life. Visitors can follow the Marathon of Hope journey across the country and be inspired by Terry’s and exceptional accomplishment and attitude. The BC Sports Hall of Fame also offers a Terry Fox Tour and a Terry Fox lesson plan in the Hero In You® education program.
Rick Hansen Gallery
One of our largest collections, that of Rick Hansen, is showcased in the Rick Hansen Gallery, which was recently renovated to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the completion of the Man In Motion Tour. Rick’s Man in Motion wheelchair, competitive wheelchair marathon medals and world tour memorabilia and footage make up the gallery which continues to teach British Columbians that heart, passion and character are the most important strengths any athlete can have. His story is incorporated into our Hero In You® educational programming, which provides educational resources for teachers and students, grades 4 through 7.
Known to the world as the “Man in Motion” Rick Hansen took an incredible 2 years, 34 countries and 25,000 miles wheeling around the world to raise money for spinal cord research.
Rick’s budding career as an athlete was cut short at age 15, when a truck accident left him paralyzed in both legs. He overcame his devastating loss of movement however, by using his wheelchair to play sports again.
He led the Vancouver Cable Cars wheelchair basketball team to five national championships in six years. He has won 19 international marathons and set Canadian and World Records in wheelchair races in track & field.
He was awarded the National Disabled Athlete of the Year in 1979, 1980 and 1982 and shared Canada’s Outstanding Athlete of the Year Award with Wayne Gretzky in 1983.
Apart from competition, Rick tirelessly promotes awareness of disabled athletes. He is the Ambassador for Canadian wheelchair athletes and with his goal of 10 million dollars for spinal cord research attained.
Rick Hansen was inducted to the BC Sports Hall of Fame in the athlete category in 2007 and received the WAC Bennett award in 1997. The BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum is proud to house a permanent tribute gallery to Rick Hansen. The Hero In You® education program offers a lesson plan focusing on teamwork, personal planning and goal setting using Rick Hansen’s story as the teaching tool.
Greg Moore Gallery
As Maple Ridge’s homegrown hero, Greg Moore is a household name. When Moore made a choice early on to follow his father’s footsteps and pursue racing go-carts over playing goal in hockey, the rest was history.
In his 13-year career, the young driver progressed through the North American Championships earning various titles and honours, and quickly catapulted to the heights of professional racing.
Still a teenager, Moore and his team won their first Indy Lights season opener in Phoenix, making him the youngest driver to ever win a CART sanctioned event. The 1995 racing season saw Moore break the record for most career Indy Lights victories with 13 wins.
In his debut the following year as the youngest full-time Indy Car driver, Moore took the racing world by storm. A year later he became the youngest winner in CART history. At 22 years, the sophomore driver held off Michael Andretti to take the checkered flag at the Milwaukee Mile. In 1997 and 1998 Moore finished in seventh and in fifth places respectively in the Cart championships.
In 1999 he commenced the year with a fantastic win at Homestead in the series opener and achieved eight top ten finishes that year. His tragic death at the season finale in Fontana in October 1999 cut short a brilliant racing career of all time and the world mourned the loss of this young man. He was and is an inspiration to those who knew him and loved him so well, and to a multitude of fans who never met him. Greg Moore was inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.
The BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum opened the Greg Moore Gallery on February 27, 2007. The gallery not only tells Greg’s exceptional story, it celebrates it. A special thank you to all the family members of Greg Moore who shared their stories and helped make the Greg Moore Gallery a reality.
