shaniasupersite.com

New plan coming for Shania Centre

Council hiring consultant to look at tourist attractions

The Daily Press
By Ron Grech
December 21, 2010

Timmins council is hiring a consultant to develop a business plan for the combined Shania Twain Centre/Gold Mine Tour sites despite suggestions from one councillor that it would be a complete waste of money.

"I don't think we need a consultant to tell us to combine advertising dollars" and do joint marketing with other attractions in the region, said Coun. Noella Rinaldo.

She predicted the report would end up on a shelf somewhere, gathering dust.

The five-year-business plan is being done in conjunction with the Hockey Heritage North in Kirkland Lake and the Polar Bear Habitat in Cochrane.

Timmins' share in the cost of this report is more than $80,000.

However, about 75% of that amount will be covered by funding from the provincial and federal governments.

By investing $20,000, the city will also be able to tap into an additional $53,000 of government funding to be used for regional marketing.

The majority of council felt the investment was worthwhile because the city would be "leveraging significant dollars" from the provincial and federal governments to help further develop and promote its key tourist attractions.

Coun. John Curley said, "I want to make sure we cover all avenues before we do anything to that site.

"This is probably going to be our last chance to prove this site worthwhile."

Curley said the Shania Twain Centre has been challenged by the singer's lack of output in recent years.

However, he pointed out that Twain has just announced her engagement and suggested this may spur renewed public interest in both her and the centre.

"She just announced she's getting married," Curley said. "Maybe she'll get married in that building."

Most of council supported hiring the consultant.Only councillors Rinaldo, Steve Black and Andrew Marks voted against the motion.

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