shania.funurl.com

Shania fans excited for next event

.

The Daily Press
August 14, 2006
Chelsey Romain

They travelled from as far away as Holland, Germany and England - all to share a piece of the life their favourite singer experienced growing up.

And nearly all of them say they'll be back.

On Aug. 10, a group just shy of 80 people from all over the world gathered at the Shania Twain Centre for the beginning of the fourth annual Shania Twain Fan Convention. Four days later, they are preparing for their long voyages home.

Throughout the weekend, participants received a grand tour of Timmins, which included stops at the Third Avenue site of Shania Twain's handprints, Cedar Meadows Resort and Timmins High & Vocational School, which the singer attended. The convention also took them to places in other parts of the province that have had an impact on Shania's booming career and her personal life, such as the Country Music Television studio in Toronto, the Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville, where she often performed growing up, and the Mattagami First Nation community where Shania spent time as a child.

"It was amazing," said 14-year-old Paige Jeffrey, who was randomly selected to stay at the Days Inn Shania Twain suite for the weekend. "It's the one time of year, besides concerts, where you get the chance to get together with other fans."

Many attendees had a difficult time picking their favourite part of the trip, but the Shania trivia contest, the MuchMusic Video Dance Party and the Cedar Meadows wilderness tour were among the activities frequently mentioned as highlights.

"Every moment was great; I couldn't pick just one," said Jeffrey, who also won first place in the trivia concert. "But just walking through the centre makes you feel closer to her, like you know her more."

For Shania Twain Centre manager Tracy Hautanen and her staff, it was a long week, including two trips to and from Toronto to pick up and drop off those heading home via airplane, but Hautanen said it was still a very successful event.

"We consider a convention a success when we see people come back after their second, third and fourth time, and they leave the farewell brunch saying they will see us next year," said Hautanen.

"I didn't hear anyone say they weren't going to try and make it back next year," said Hautanen.

One of the highlights of this year's convention for Hautanen was the generosity of the visitors. Each year the fans take it among themselves to collect money to donate to the Porcupine Food Bank.

"I was overwhelmed by the amount of money the fans collected,"she said of the more than $1,000 that was raised.

"In four years they have managed to raise over $3,500."

Fans say they collect the money for the food bank in support of the number of food-related charities Shania herself supports.

Hautanen said they are already planning next year's convention, which fans were inquiring about before they even left this year's event.

"If fans are eager to come back, we have to ensure that it is another exciting event for them to attend," said Hautanen.

While there is no word yet as to what next year will entail, Shania Twain band members J.D. Blair and Allison Cornell, who participated in the weekend's events, have already expressed an interest to return.

"They are both very professional and friendly people," said Hautanen. "J.D. and Allison truly represent the kind of people Shania surrounds herself with."

But for many of the fans who have returned year after year, it becomes more about seeing each other as friends, rather than simply as fellow fans.

"I just want to thank Shania," said Jeffrey.

"Without her we never would have come here and we never would have met each other."

.