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Shania mania

Twain fans from all over the world converge for 8th-annual convention

The Daily Press (Pictures & Video interview with Tracy Hautanen)
By Chelsey Romain
August 8, 2010

Even without a CD release in several years, Shania Twain is still the one around the world.

Twain has not released an album since her 2004 Greatest Hits CD, but that didn't stop more than 20 of her fans from gathering in Timmins this past weekend. Some came from as far away as Sweden and Italy to see where the country superstar was raised.

Shania Twain Centre manager Tracy Hautanen said they expected a smaller than normal group for the eighth-annual Shania Twain Fan Convention, since Twain has remained out of the spotlight, but that a fun time was still planned.

"We're a small group and we're OK with that," she said. "This is more like a group gathering than a big convention. "We'll be building it up to when she's a little more in the public and have a bigger event then."

The focus of this year's convention was Twain's most recent trip to her hometown, when she took in some of the action during Under-17 World Hockey Challenge and carried the Olympic torch during the final leg of the Timmins tour.

The group re-ran Twain's route into Hollinger Park, as well as met with Timmins police officers to learn about the security arrangements that were implemented on Twain's behalf while the country music star was in town.

Since hockey season is not quite in swing yet, the group took to Game On where they played some ball hockey. Split into two teams, they were provided with their own jerseys named after Twain's songs "I'm Gonna Getcha Good" and "Ain't No Quitter."

But as much as the fans come for a common interest, they have also become friends since their first convention. "It's definitely like a family reunion," Hautanen said. "A majority of them arrived in town on Monday, and please note the convention didn't start until Thursday night, and many of them won't leave until Monday or Tuesday. "They just want to spend some time with their friends."

Magnus Platen first came to Canada from Sweden for the 2005 convention, initially to learn more about Twain and see the centre. Since then, he has returned three more times to meet up with the others.

"I think this is great," he said. "It's bringing all the world together in one common place where you can meet new friends and old ones."

Platen first became a fan of Twain with her Woman In Me CD and said he's always been a fan of country music. But Twain has a difference about her.

"She's one of the biggest artists in history," Platen said. "I love her music and her style of country."

While Platen admits Twain's absence from the spotlight has turned the convention into a friendly gathering, one fan said she's been personally touched by Twain and her music.

Esther Scheerder of the Netherlands attended two of Twain's concerts in her home country back in 2005. On the second night, she and two friends were close to the stage when Twain recognized their banner from the previous concert. The three were invited on stage and were able to sing "You're Still The One" with their favourite singer.

"At first I thought 'Oh my God, what am I doing?'" Scheerder said. "But at the same time it was amazing."

The concert was being performed in a stadium to a sold-out crowd, and Scheerder admits any other time standing in front of that many people would have terrified her. But if that's what it took to meet Twain, that's what would have to be done, she said.

It's a moment, that Scheerder said she still gets chills when thinking about, and hopes other fans get the same opportunity.

"I waited for years to meet her and my dream came true and I cherish that moment still," she said. "I have a big picture in my room and whenever I'm not feeling well, I take a look at it and it makes me smile."

A number of annual convention events were also held including the popular karaoke night which is a fundraising event. Every year, convention participants choose a local charity to receive the proceeds.

This year is a little different though, Hautanen said.

"One of our fans is ill and he comes every year," she said, adding that as he recovers he was not able to attend this year. "Saturday night's event was dedicated to him and all proceeds will be going to his medical expenses."

There aren't a lot of events in Timmins that bring people from across the globe together for one common purpose and Hautanen said it's both a combination of Twain's talent and her hometown itself that make it possible.

"They all have a common attachment to Shania Twain," she said. "They all like her lyrics which are very upbeat – there's aren't any tears in my beer songs – and for many of them it's inspiring.

"They like coming together in Timmins and always talk about how great the people in Timmins and are how great our community is."

No date has been set for a new Twain album, however in April she announced plans for own television show called "Why Not? With Shania Twain," scheduled to air in early 2011 on the new Oprah Winfrey Network.

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