Ontario investing more than $300,000 to revitalize Terry Fox Visitor Centre in Thunder Bay. Upgrades to visitor centre, outdoor grounds and monument will improve visitor experience and honour a great Canadian's legacy June 18, 2026 Table of contents. THUNDER BAY - The Ontario government is investing $319,423 through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) to help the City of Thunder Bay enhance the Terry Fox Monument and Visitor Centre. As part of the government's plan to protect Ontario, this investment will help preserve an iconic landmark, improve visitor experience and support local businesses and tourism in Northwestern Ontario. "Terry Fox is a Canadian hero whose Marathon of Hope impacted the lives of millions of people in Canada and around the world," said Premier Doug Ford. "Our government is proud to honour his memory by supporting the upgrade of the Terry Fox Monument and Visitor Centre so his legacy can continue to inspire those living with cancer and give hope to his dream of finding a cure." After being diagnosed with bone cancer in his leg in 1977, Terry Fox decided to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. The Marathon of Hope took place in 1980, and Terry ran an average of 42 kilometres a day for 143 days. In September 1980, Terry had to end his run in Thunder Bay. Today, the Terry Fox Monument and Visitor Centre welcomes more than 100,000 visitors annually from across Canada and around the world, with over 50,000 entering the visitor centre itself. With the support of NOHFC funding, the City of Thunder Bay will rehabilitate the visitor centre roof, upgrade walkways, trails and landscaping and purchase new equipment such as water filling stations, outdoor picnic tables and benches. The city will also install new technologies such as screens, tablets and stands for interactive displays, as well as undertake restoration work to revitalize the 30-year-old Terry Fox monument. "Our government is proud to support improvements that will help revitalize a nationally recognized monument ensuring it remains a must-see destination in the Northwest," said George Pirie, Minister of Northern Economic Development and Growth. "This investment will help protect an important piece of Canadian history and reinforce the legacy of Terry Fox as a symbol of national inspiration." These improvements will extend the lifespan of the visitor centre and grounds, enhancing accessibility, safety and improving the overall visitor experience. Expanding and improving year-round tourism experiences will strengthen the city's ability to serve as a gateway to the region, encouraging people to stay and experience the area longer and visit local accommodations, attractions, restaurants and shopping. "This investment helps preserve one of Canada's most iconic landmarks and keeps Terry Fox's legacy inspiring visitors from around the world," said Kevin Holland, MPP for Thunder Bay - Atikokan. "By revitalizing the visitor centre, monument, and surrounding grounds, we are improving accessibility, enhancing the visitor experience and supporting tourism in Thunder Bay and across Northwestern Ontario. Terry Fox brought hope to Canadians at a time when it was deeply needed, and I'm proud our government is helping restore this site, so his story continues to inspire people for generations to come." Quick facts. * Through its funding programs, the NOHFC offers support to public and private sector economic development projects across Northern Ontario. * Since June 2018, the NOHFC has invested more than $1 billion in over 8,600 projects in Northern Ontario, leveraging more than $3.3 billion in investment and creating or sustaining over 13,400 jobs. * Before his passing in 1981, Terry inspired an annual event - the Terry Fox Run. In 2026, the Terry Fox Foundation announced it surpassed $1 billion in funds raised for cancer research. * The NOHFC, Northern Development Offices and Small Business Enterprise Centres support northern communities, businesses and other stakeholders in identifying economic development opportunities and government funding programs. Quotes. "The Terry Fox memorial in Thunder Bay is a place of deep significance for our family. Every year, thousands of people visit the Memorial to reflect on Terry's journey, his determination and his unwavering belief in a future without cancer. We are grateful for this investment, which will help preserve and enhance this special place, ensuring it remains accessible and inspiring for all who come to learn about his legacy and the enduring power of perseverance." - The Fox Family "Few places capture the Canadian spirit of perseverance and hope quite like the Terry Fox Monument and Visitor Centre. This investment will help preserve an important part of Ontario's history while enhancing the experience for visitors from across Canada and around the world, encouraging more people to discover Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario." - Stan Cho Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming "The Terry Fox Monument and Visitor Centre is one of Thunder Bay's most meaningful and recognized landmarks, welcoming visitors from around the world and reflecting Terry Fox's enduring legacy. This investment supports the City's Smart Growth Action Plan by enhancing a key tourism destination, improving accessibility and the year-round visitor experience, and strengthening Thunder Bay's appeal as a place to visit, live and invest. We thank the Province of Ontario and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation for helping preserve this iconic site for future generations." - Ken Boshcoff Mayor of Thunder Bay "The Terry Fox Visitor Centre welcomes tens of thousands of visitors from around the world each year with Thunder Bay as the destination or the stop along their route. The year-round centre is a National Historic Site, a place to honour Terry's legacy and is a critical element of the Thunder Bay CEDC's Tourism Thunder Bay tourism wayfinding program. In 2025, the visitor services team connected visitors with over $3.5 million in local and regional accommodation, culinary, events and attraction recommendations. We thank the NOHFC for their contribution to strengthen this important tourism asset in our community." - Jamie Taylor CEO, Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC)

Major boost for Thunder Bay sports as Ontario commits $2M to new facility. Facility 'enhances Thunder Bay's ability to host events and attract visitors,' mayor says. Desmond Brown · CBC News · Posted: May 20, 2026 1:00 AM PDT | Last Updated: 5 hours ago Estimated 4 minutes Social sharing. The City of Thunder Bay has received $2 million to help build the Tbaytel Multiplex, a state-of-the-art indoor turf facility. The Ontario government announced the funding, through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC), on Tuesday. Mayor Ken Boshcoff said the $2 million investment is going toward more than just sport. "It strengthens our community, supports local programming and enhances Thunder Bay's ability to host events and attract visitors," he said. "With the NOHFC's support, we are building the only indoor turf facility in the region where families and athletes can come together at the Tbaytel Multiplex regardless of the season and be a part of something truly inspiring." A news release from the NOHFC said the 120,000-square-foot recreational facility will have FIFA-standard turf installed with automatic dividers able to split the field into halves and quarters. Constructed using made-in-Canada steel, the Tbaytel Multiplex will be open throughout the year and include 500 seats for spectators, eight changerooms for players, two referee changerooms and a multi-purpose room, the release says. Once complete, the sports hub will create accessible recreation opportunities and give athletes a place to practice, compete and grow. The project will also help create good-paying jobs and empower the city to host more sporting events, boosting tourism and driving economic opportunities, it says. Ontario's Minister of Northern Economic Development and Growth, George Pirie, said having access to modern and accessible recreational amenities is essential to building healthy, prosperous communities. "Thunder Bay is a hub for northwestern Ontario. It's going to be the home for the lithium hydroxide plants, you can see the ports are being developed and we want the people to live where they work," Pirie told reporters following a news conference at the construction site for the new facility at 471 Beverly St. "So, building these facilities that really speak to the investment of improving the quality of life are incredibly important for the province to ensure that we protect all of Ontario. That's what this is all about." According to Pirie, "Thunder Bay's new sport facility will become an integral part of the city and help residents of all ages create new memories while staying active." 'This is amazing,' says Soccer Northwest president. Michael Veneziale, president of Soccer Northwest, welcomed the announcement, saying the investment by the province and money his group has raised through fundraising, will help close a funding gap to complete the facility. "This is amazing, anytime you can see more people get on board," Veneziale said. "It was mentioned earlier that this was a team effort and it truly comes together. The user groups working with the city and then donors coming in and now having provincial and federal money behind it. It's incredible to see it all coming together." Kelvin Jankowski, manager of Capital Facilities Construction, said they are still on track to finish building the facility later this year. "They're pretty close to finishing the steel structure and then pre-insulated metal panels will start to arrive on site. That'll take about three-and-a-half to four months to complete," he said. "And while they're doing that scope, they'll also be doing concrete pores inside, under slab plumbing, and then the facility will be closed-in in September and they'll start doing the finishing touches inside. "While they're doing the outside of the facility they're going to revamp this entire parking lot, do all their storm water drainage on both sides, new parking curbs, and they're also working adjacent here for a flood mitigation project as well. So, there's lots going on in this site over the next six months," he added. Jankowski said the tentative opening date is the beginning of next year, "barring any other foreseen unforeseen circumstances." With files from Marc Doucette

Welcoming Communities Analysis highlights importance of newcomer retention in Thunder Bay. March 25, 2026 - The Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission, in partnership with the City of Thunder Bay (Community Services) and the Thunder Bay Multicultural Association, has completed a Welcoming Communities Analysis to strengthen support for newcomers and advance long-term population growth, aligned with the City of Thunder Bay's Growth Action Plan. "Understanding both the need and the opportunity to make Thunder Bay a more welcoming place will help build a stronger community for everyone," said Jamie Taylor, CEO, Thunder Bay CEDC. "Thunder Bay is already an incredible place to live, but by becoming more attractive and supportive to newcomers, we strengthen our workforce and gain a competitive advantage in attracting industry, businesses, and new residents." Following a period of strong immigration that boosted the local workforce and economy, national policy changes are expected to reduce newcomer numbers - making retention a key priority for the community. "Thunder Bay Multicultural Association has been an integral part of welcoming immigrants and refugees to the city since 1976," said Cathy Woodbeck, Executive Director, Thunder Bay Multicultural Association. "We are pleased that the community and the smart growth plan are recognizing that a welcoming community is key to retention and growth. Our association and programming are focused on helping integrate newcomers into our city in partnership with the CEDC and the City of Thunder Bay." To support Thunder Bay's population growth goals, the analysis identified priority areas including housing, health care, transit, community services, and child care - critical factors in attracting and retaining newcomers. Key recommendations include: * Recognizing newcomers as a distinct population with unique needs * Collaborating with newcomers to develop a centralized information hub * Optimizing data sharing to help service providers better understand and respond to newcomer needs "Creating a welcoming community for newcomers is important to realizing Thunder Bay's Smart Growth vision, attracting talent, and enriching our quality of life." Added Kelly Robertson, Commissioner, Community Services, City of Thunder Bay