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Council debates future of Shania Twain Centre

The Timmins Times
May 27, 2009

An effort by city hall to re-structure some of its departments led to a debate this week over whether the city should consider selling off the Shania Twain Centre.

The issue arose after an in-house report on the creation of the city’s new Culture, Leisure and Tourism division, which is part of the Development and Community Services Department. Previously, this was under the jurisdiction of the City Clerk.

The new department now includes what was defined as “five distinct business units” - the Timmins Museum and National Exhibition Centre, Leisure Services, the Sportsplex pool, Tourism Timmins and the Shania Twain Centre-Gold Mine Tour.

Councilor Denis Saudino expressed concern about the money being spent on the Shania Twain Centre (STC) and suggested that the numbers of visitors is not quite as accurate as it could be.

Saudino said he didn’t want the numbers of visitors that would go to the STC because it might be a special event on Canada Day or a wedding reception or something similar. He said he wanted the numbers of actual ticket sales.

“It has never lived up to its expectations,” said Saudino, who quoted consultants who predicted the centre would attract about 25,000 visitors a year.

“It never even came close, never came close.” he said.

“There comes a time when you have to say ‘well how can you scale it back and still have something to honour Shania Twain’,” he said.

He said the city’s subsidy this year will likely be more than $300,000.

Saudino said he did not want to rubber stamp the city report, saying there was far too much information that had not been included.

Councilor John Curley expressed disappointment that too much negativity was being expressed in a public venue.

“Each one of us could sit around here and criticize,” said Curley.

He said all members of council agreed on the decision to build the Shania centre and efforts continue at ways to make the venture more profitable.

“I think we have to stay positive,” said Curley. “But to sit here and criticize a place, where our staff are there working, we have dedicated boards that work out of there, is not right to hear on public television,” said Curley.

Saudino became upset at this point and said he was not criticizing any staff members, and a short shouting match ensued, which was quelled by the mayor.

Councilor Gary Scripnick remarked that leisure facilities are expected to “be a burden on the taxpayer” but added he wouldn’t be against selling the centre if Shania Twain herself was interested in buying it. He suggested that Twain and her entertainment contacts would have the expertise to make the centre work.

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