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Twain donates torch to the Shania Centre

Singing star explains she put hockey tape on the torch

The Timmins Times
By Len Gillis
January 2, 2010

Shania Twain laughs as she explains why she put white hockey tape on the Olympic Torch.

Singing star Shania Twain added a bit more lustre to her hometown visit to Timmins today when she donated her Olympic Torch and uniform to the Shania Twain Centre (STC).

Twain, who took part of the Olympic Torch run through Timmins yesterday, was entitled keep the torch bearer's uniform and to buy her Olympic Torch.

At a special invitation-only event held at the STC Saturday, Twain thanked the local organizers for having her take part in the run. Guests at the event included several out-of-town fan club members who braved the extreme cold to visit Timmins. Twain's donation to the centre included the pants, the jacket, the hat, the red mitts and the shoes.

As she handed the torch over to Timmins Mayor Tom Laughren, Twain explained she put some white hockey tape around the handle of the torch.

Twain explained that was "so it wouldn't slip out of my hand. I thought that would be rather embarrassing if I dropped the torch!"

"We're very, very proud that you did that for us last night," Laughren told Twain.

Laughren also told Twain that no one would change her modification to the torch. "It'll be the only one in Canada with hockey tape on it," he laughed.

Twain also remarked that she was pleased to be back at the STC.

"It's just such a huge honour," she remarked. She added that she thinks about the centre often and says remembers her Timmins roots and "what it is for a small town girl to come from here."

SPOTLIGHT ON TIMMINS

As part of his remarks to the event, Laughren thanked Twain for accepting the city's invitation to take part in the community celebration and the torch run.

"Shania, since your rise to fame you have continued to be a tireless ambassador for our community," said Laughren. "You have taken every opportunity to extend the virtues of your hometown every step of the way. Your generous participation with us during the Timmins leg of the Vancouver Olympics Torch Run has again allowed the spotlight to shine on our community," he said.

Laughren said Twain was an inspiration to every young person who wants to take their dreams and push them to reality while still keeping in touch with her roots.

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