Tourism attraction developments move ahead.

• Author: WALCHUK, KEVIN
• Position: Brief Article - Statistical Data Included

Shania's interpretive centre and snowmobiling take centre stage

Timmins has long profited from its association with gold, both as a natural resource and a draw for tourist dollars with facilities such as Tourism Timmins' Gold Mine Tour.

The city is now hoping to twin its long-standing natural resource recognition with that of its most famous human resource, namely, Shania Twain.

Timmins is the birth place of the country superstar and the site of Canada's largest gold mining camp, a fact that was not lost on the city's tourism department when it decided to build the Shania Twain Interpretive Centre adjacent to the city's largest tourism outpost, the Gold Mine Tour.

The $11-million, 972-square-metre interpretive centre will dedicate 360 square metres to an exhibit featuring Shania Twain, 135 square metres of temporary exhibit space, and 108 square metres of foyer space for public proceedings.

The Shania Twain exhibit will include personal memorabilia donated by the superstar as well as surrounding information and interactive exhibits chronicling her rise to international country music stardom.

The interpretive centre will also examine the rich social and economic history of Timmins and its surrounding areas.

"We wanted this (Centre) to tell both stories. That of Shania and her life, as well as the story of the community," Will Saari, Tourism Timmins co-ordinator, says.

Saari says Twain has been close to the project from the start.

"Shania has been involved in the planning of the Interpretive Centre from its early stages," he says. "And we plan on continuing that participation."

Construction is expected to begin on the new facility in mid November. The tender process is now closed.

Saari says he is optimistic the Centre will meet its goal of a July 2001 opening.

Meanwhile, Tourism Timmins is gearing up for what it hopes will be a successful snowmobile season in northeastern...