After a year and a half of discussion, it’s been confirmed that the Shania Twain Centre will close its doors after 12 years of operation. Mining company Goldcorp will buy the land to turn into an open pit mine. The centre, which cost $4 million in tax dollars to build, is widely considered by residents of Timmins, Ontario to be a failed tourist attraction. Mayor Tom Laughren believes the lack of support from locals is why the centre is the money-losing endeavour it is today since residents don’t bring guests to the site (as is expected by their Mayor overlord).
While Shania Twain may no longer have a multi-million dollar building to remind everyone of her international success, Timmins city councillor Pat Bamford is quick to note that this doesn’t mean they are distancing themselves from the singer. The city remains proud of Twain, but needs to look towards their future and hopes the change will boost tourism. Superstars don’t last forever and neither can their shrines, but not to worry, Shania got all the good memorabilia out of there last summer.
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Hallae Khosravi is an intern at Toronto Standard. Follow her on Twitter @hallaek.
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