ShaniaIsALeader
07-03-2003, 08:25 AM
Shania fans can Come On Over
By Debbie Pell
Thursday, July 03, 2003 - 07:00
Local News - The first ever World-wide Shania Twain Fan Convention, set for August 7-10, is music to the ears for fans of the pop/country superstar.
True to its name, fans from around the world have already registered, said Tracy Hautanen, customer services manager for the centre.
“We have someone registered from Scotland and our first registrations came in from California,” she said.
“People are coming from all over the United States, including New York and Washington, and, of course, Ontario. We’re looking forward to having these people come to our community.”
The Shania Twain Centre will be the nerve centre for the four-day convention, which will open with a meet-and-greet bonfire and local entertainment on August 7.
“It’s a gathering for the first people who get to town and they’ll receive their convention kits,” Hautanen said.
Throughout the four days, fans will be treated to entertainment at the centre ranging from a lip sync contest, a dance accompanied by videos of Shania and a farewell brunch topped up with a group photograph.
Plans are in the works for fans to get a taste of Timmins with tours of Millson Forestry, Tembec Industries, the Museum National Exhibition Centre and the Gold Mine Tour.
While all details have yet to be finalized, the event will focus on providing fans with an authentic Shania encounter, albeit without her, said Hautanen.
“We definitely want to make sure it’s a good quality event and people are going to have the Shania experience when they’re in Timmins,” she said.
Shania is not expected to attend the inaugural convention.
Hautanen said while there are fans interested in attending nonetheless there are others who are waiting for the Timmins Superstar’s return.
“There are fans out there that are hoping to come when she is here - maybe next year, maybe the year after — we don’t know,” Hautanen said.
The convention is starting small this year, anticipating 100 out-of-town guests. Hautanen sees the convention growing over the years.
“We don’t anticipate a first-time event being huge, but everybody will get the best Timmins welcome they can get and we know that in years to come it will grow and become an annual event,” she said.
The event is being advertised on the various fan club sites because Shania fans typically check them out on a regular basis, Hautanen said.
In fact, the format for the convention came about as a result of feedback from the centre’s web site.
“People gave us their suggestions and we based our events list on those suggestions,” she said.
Hautanen said she recognizes some of the names of those registered for the convention from the names on the North American Online Fan Club as well as others.
Timmins residents are welcome to attend everything, but Hautanen suspects there might be more local interest in attending the dance on Saturday night, for example, as most have the opportunity to tour local sites at their leisure.
“For most of the events we have planned, most people in Timmins probably have done or seen on their own and this is more geared to the out-of-town person coming in,” Hautanen said.
While early registration expired on Tuesday, regular registration is available to anyone interested and costs $199.95 for the entire package.
“That includes two dinners, entrance to all the tours, shuttle services, a lunch and a brunch as well as the fan convention T-shirts,” Hautanen said.
For further information call the Shania Twain Centre at 360-8500 or log on to www.shaniatwaincentre.com.
:D
By Debbie Pell
Thursday, July 03, 2003 - 07:00
Local News - The first ever World-wide Shania Twain Fan Convention, set for August 7-10, is music to the ears for fans of the pop/country superstar.
True to its name, fans from around the world have already registered, said Tracy Hautanen, customer services manager for the centre.
“We have someone registered from Scotland and our first registrations came in from California,” she said.
“People are coming from all over the United States, including New York and Washington, and, of course, Ontario. We’re looking forward to having these people come to our community.”
The Shania Twain Centre will be the nerve centre for the four-day convention, which will open with a meet-and-greet bonfire and local entertainment on August 7.
“It’s a gathering for the first people who get to town and they’ll receive their convention kits,” Hautanen said.
Throughout the four days, fans will be treated to entertainment at the centre ranging from a lip sync contest, a dance accompanied by videos of Shania and a farewell brunch topped up with a group photograph.
Plans are in the works for fans to get a taste of Timmins with tours of Millson Forestry, Tembec Industries, the Museum National Exhibition Centre and the Gold Mine Tour.
While all details have yet to be finalized, the event will focus on providing fans with an authentic Shania encounter, albeit without her, said Hautanen.
“We definitely want to make sure it’s a good quality event and people are going to have the Shania experience when they’re in Timmins,” she said.
Shania is not expected to attend the inaugural convention.
Hautanen said while there are fans interested in attending nonetheless there are others who are waiting for the Timmins Superstar’s return.
“There are fans out there that are hoping to come when she is here - maybe next year, maybe the year after — we don’t know,” Hautanen said.
The convention is starting small this year, anticipating 100 out-of-town guests. Hautanen sees the convention growing over the years.
“We don’t anticipate a first-time event being huge, but everybody will get the best Timmins welcome they can get and we know that in years to come it will grow and become an annual event,” she said.
The event is being advertised on the various fan club sites because Shania fans typically check them out on a regular basis, Hautanen said.
In fact, the format for the convention came about as a result of feedback from the centre’s web site.
“People gave us their suggestions and we based our events list on those suggestions,” she said.
Hautanen said she recognizes some of the names of those registered for the convention from the names on the North American Online Fan Club as well as others.
Timmins residents are welcome to attend everything, but Hautanen suspects there might be more local interest in attending the dance on Saturday night, for example, as most have the opportunity to tour local sites at their leisure.
“For most of the events we have planned, most people in Timmins probably have done or seen on their own and this is more geared to the out-of-town person coming in,” Hautanen said.
While early registration expired on Tuesday, regular registration is available to anyone interested and costs $199.95 for the entire package.
“That includes two dinners, entrance to all the tours, shuttle services, a lunch and a brunch as well as the fan convention T-shirts,” Hautanen said.
For further information call the Shania Twain Centre at 360-8500 or log on to www.shaniatwaincentre.com.
:D