Roger
08-02-2004, 3:02pm
Here is an article in today's Daily Press:
Timmins where his heart is
By Joyce Hunter
Monday, August 02, 2004 - 07:00
Local News - Shania Twain fans have touted the country superstar as their source for inspiration.
And for Tom Waller of Scotland, she is just that.
“I’m moving (to Timmins),” he said, of Twain’s hometown. “The people are nice and the houses are affordable — it’s a buyer’s market.”
Waller, 55, has already been to the realtors and is on the hunt for a house.
“Shania was right: the people here are friendly and approachable, so I’d like to call this place home,” he said. “I’ve a temporary permit to live here right now, but I want to live here permanently.”
Waller remembers the first time he travelled thousands of kilometres to see the community Twain has been known for endorsing.
The burly Scotsman laughed about the “lasting first impression” he’s sure he made in 2002.
“I didn’t realize kilts worn outside of special occasions were out of the ordinary in Northern Ontario,” he said in his Scottish brogue.
The sailor’s initial visit took him to the Shania Twain Centre where he built a rapport with the staff.
Tracy Hautanen, customer service manager for the Shania Twain Centre, remembers clearly the day Waller arrived in Timmins.
“We gave him an official tour of the centre even though it was closed,” she said. “There are a lot of fans that stay in touch with us via Internet and Tom is one of them.”
In fact, Hautanen said, Waller was known to the staff at the centre long before his initial arrival in Timmins.
“Like many Shania fans, Tom spent a lot of time keeping in contact with us through message boards and e-mails,” she said.
When Waller is in Timmins, more often than not he can be found at the Shania Twain Centre.
He knows so much about Twain — he has admitted to devouring every little bit of information he can find out about her — he has even been known to give tours at the centre.
“I don’t think your readers realize this, but this place gets incredibly busy, especially in July and August when people are on holidays,” Waller said. “When its busy, it is all hands to the pumps.
“Like all good Shania fans, I pretty well know most of the answers, so I can give an informative tour.”
And the help is appreciated, Hautanen said.
“Tom is such a nice, funny guy with a big heart,” she said. “Often when he goes to (Twain’s) concerts, he will promote the Shania Twain Centre.
“He has taken to promoting it everywhere he goes.”
Waller is currently in Timmins waiting to attend the second edition of the Shania Twain fan convention.
“He’s been coming here every day listening to our staff to see if we’ll accidentally let the big secret we have planned for the convention slip,” she whispered to The Daily Press as Waller stood nearby talking to other staff members.
She smiled knowingly.
“This surprise is going to allow fans to get up close and personal with her in a way they never have before,” she said, still whispering.
“She is normally a very private person, so I know her fans will appreciate the surprise.”
This year’s fan convention will be held Aug. 5-8.
ID- 74979
http://www.timminspress.com/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentid=74979&catname=Local+News
Now what could that surprise be? I still say it is her bus.
Roger
Timmins where his heart is
By Joyce Hunter
Monday, August 02, 2004 - 07:00
Local News - Shania Twain fans have touted the country superstar as their source for inspiration.
And for Tom Waller of Scotland, she is just that.
“I’m moving (to Timmins),” he said, of Twain’s hometown. “The people are nice and the houses are affordable — it’s a buyer’s market.”
Waller, 55, has already been to the realtors and is on the hunt for a house.
“Shania was right: the people here are friendly and approachable, so I’d like to call this place home,” he said. “I’ve a temporary permit to live here right now, but I want to live here permanently.”
Waller remembers the first time he travelled thousands of kilometres to see the community Twain has been known for endorsing.
The burly Scotsman laughed about the “lasting first impression” he’s sure he made in 2002.
“I didn’t realize kilts worn outside of special occasions were out of the ordinary in Northern Ontario,” he said in his Scottish brogue.
The sailor’s initial visit took him to the Shania Twain Centre where he built a rapport with the staff.
Tracy Hautanen, customer service manager for the Shania Twain Centre, remembers clearly the day Waller arrived in Timmins.
“We gave him an official tour of the centre even though it was closed,” she said. “There are a lot of fans that stay in touch with us via Internet and Tom is one of them.”
In fact, Hautanen said, Waller was known to the staff at the centre long before his initial arrival in Timmins.
“Like many Shania fans, Tom spent a lot of time keeping in contact with us through message boards and e-mails,” she said.
When Waller is in Timmins, more often than not he can be found at the Shania Twain Centre.
He knows so much about Twain — he has admitted to devouring every little bit of information he can find out about her — he has even been known to give tours at the centre.
“I don’t think your readers realize this, but this place gets incredibly busy, especially in July and August when people are on holidays,” Waller said. “When its busy, it is all hands to the pumps.
“Like all good Shania fans, I pretty well know most of the answers, so I can give an informative tour.”
And the help is appreciated, Hautanen said.
“Tom is such a nice, funny guy with a big heart,” she said. “Often when he goes to (Twain’s) concerts, he will promote the Shania Twain Centre.
“He has taken to promoting it everywhere he goes.”
Waller is currently in Timmins waiting to attend the second edition of the Shania Twain fan convention.
“He’s been coming here every day listening to our staff to see if we’ll accidentally let the big secret we have planned for the convention slip,” she whispered to The Daily Press as Waller stood nearby talking to other staff members.
She smiled knowingly.
“This surprise is going to allow fans to get up close and personal with her in a way they never have before,” she said, still whispering.
“She is normally a very private person, so I know her fans will appreciate the surprise.”
This year’s fan convention will be held Aug. 5-8.
ID- 74979
http://www.timminspress.com/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentid=74979&catname=Local+News
Now what could that surprise be? I still say it is her bus.
Roger