Shania Suprises High School Reunion

Shania Twain makes surprise appearance at Timmins, Ont. school reunion

RON GRECH

TIMMINS, Ont. (CP) - Country superstar Shania Twain played homecoming queen Saturday night at her high school reunion. Twain, who now lives in Switzerland, surprised the 2,000 graduates attending celebrations at Timmins High and Vocational School in northern Ontario.

The 34-year-old music star tried to blend into the crowd, wearing a sleeveless top, black pants, her hair pulled straight back and wearing little make-up. Twain, known to her classmates as Eilleen, told a local radio station she went to the alumni dinner without any security escort, just like any other student.

"I came for the same reasons that everyone else came. I mean, you just want to see your old friends and old schoolmates," Twain told CFTO News. "And it only happens once. That's it," she said.

"I was never a popular kid and nothing really special happened to me in high school. I just went through like everyone else," she recalled. "But, I did get to perform at one of the school dances. That was a highlight."

But Twain, who graduated from the school in 1983 and now lives in Switzerland, is far from the school's average graduate.

Twain's third album, "Come On Over," was the best-selling country album of all time with sales topping the 17-million mark.

She was named entertainer of the year at this year's Academy of Country Music Awards and took home the favourite female country and female pop-rock artist awards at the American Music Awards in January. Last week she was nominated for five major Canadian Country Music Awards including single of the year.

The popular diva was swarmed at the reunion by scores of friends and well-wishers - many asking for autographs and photo requests - who were thrilled that she made the impromptu appearance, the event organizers said.

"She was very gracious," said Orest Lawryniw. "She did a walk about, met and shook hands with as many people as possible."

He said Twain spent about an hour meeting with reunion guests before people left her alone to meet with her old friends and teachers.

Susan Ford, who drove from Victoria, B.C., to attend the reunion, said Twain's appearance was "definitely the highlight" of the evening.

"It was worth driving all across Canada for this."

Lawryniw said event organizers knew it was possible Twain might return to her school reunion. He said she registered under a pseudonym, but wouldn't disclose the fake name.

"Some of the members of the organizing committee knew she was in town," said Lawryniw. "Whether she would attend was another matter."

Timmins Mayor Vic Power, a 1952 school graduate, called Twain "a class act" for taking the time to "show her loyalty towards her roots and towards Timmins."

"I think this is something that is exceptional for a star of her magnitude," Power said.

Twain began singing locally at age eight.

She took on the task of raising her three younger siblings after her parents were killed in an automobile crash when she was 21.

Twain kept the household going with a stage job at an Ontario resort until her siblings were old enough to set out on their own.

Then, free to pursue her dream of becoming a country music entertainer, she headed for Nashville.

Married to rock producer Mutt Lange since 1993, Twain is taking a break after a two-year tour and is currently working on a new album for release in 2001.

In May, Twain announced financing for a student scholarship fund at the high school. Her last known visit to her home town was in 1999 for a Canada Day concert, her first in Timmins since she became a superstar.

The town is also building a tribute to Twain that will contain some of her awards, clothing and trace her rise to stardom.