As a large crowd of demonstrators and others mingled on Parliament Hill in Ottawa for the "Freedom Convoy" protest against COVID-19 health mandates, images of a statue of Terry Fox holding a protest sign sparked outrage among social media users, including the mayor of Ottawa.
Someone had placed an upside-down Canadian flag onto the statue of Terry Fox at the corner of Wellington and Metcalfe and draped another flag around the statue’s back and shoulders. Some protest signs were also placed in the statue’s hands.
An upside-down flag is generally meant to symbolize distress or danger, but has been used by protesters at different times as a political statement. The government of Canada’s rules for flying the national flag say the flag should never be flown upside down except as a signal of distress in instances of extreme danger to life, and should also never be used to cover a statue.
In a tweet, Ottawa mayor Jim Watson called the move "completely unacceptable" and said he ordered staff to remove the items placed on the statue.
"This kind of stunt by protesters does not help their cause," Watson tweeted.
This is completely unacceptable and I have asked city bylaw to have the placard and upside down Canadian flag taken down. This kind of stunt by protesters does not help their cause
— Jim Watson (@JimWatsonOttawa) January 29, 2022
Brad West, the mayor of Fox’s hometown of Port Coquitlam, B.C., accused whoever placed the items on the statue of appropriating Fox’s legacy.
I’m the Mayor of Terry Fox’s hometown. He’s our city’s hero, national inspiration and an unifier. Whatever your cause, you don’t get to appropriate his legacy and you don’t touch his statue. Ever. This should be removed immediately. @ottawacity @JimWatsonOttawa https://t.co/Souo0BodaJ
— Brad West (@BradWestPoCo) January 29, 2022
"He’s our city’s hero, national inspiration and a unifier. Whatever your cause, you don’t get to appropriate his legacy and you don’t touch his statue. Ever."
While it didn’t directly comment on the images of the statue in Ottawa, the Terry Fox Foundation tweeted an image of a statue of the Canadian icon, with the message that he believed in science.
"Terry believed in science and gave his life to help others. Thank you to all of our supporters who help us work toward realizing Terry’s dream of a world without cancer," the tweet said.
The Terry Fox Foundation is proud to continue Terry’s mission of funding cancer research. Terry believed in science and gave his life to help others. Thank you to all of our supporters who help us work toward realizing Terry’s dream of a world without cancer. ���� pic.twitter.com/5MSky1YfVM
— TerryFoxFoundation (@TerryFoxCanada) January 29, 2022
The protest in Ottawa drew a massive crowd to Parliament Hill to protest COVID-19 health mandates imposed by all levels of government, including mandatory vaccination requirements and mask mandates. Many were also protesting the Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The protest created gridlock in Ottawa’s downtown core, with the city of Ottawa warning at one point that there was "no more room for vehicles" other than emergency responders.
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Ottawa mayor Jim Watson said on social media that he ordered staff to remove items that were placed on a statue of Canadian icon Terry Fox on Parliament Hill during an anti-mandate protest Jan. 29, 2022. (Colton Praill/CTV News Ottawa)
Some protest signs and an upside down Canadian flag were placed into the hands of the Terry Fox statue on Wellington Street in Ottawa, across from the Parliament Buildings, during an anti-COVID-19 mandate protest. Jan. 29, 2022. (Photo courtesy of Griffin Waller)
Ottawa mayor Jim Watson said on social media that he ordered staff to remove items that were placed on a statue of Canadian icon Terry Fox on Parliament Hill during an anti-mandate protest Jan. 29, 2022. (Colton Praill/CTV News Ottawa)
