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City gets chance to strut its stuff

This is the weekend so many people have been looking forward to. Timmins plays host to a number of big events this weekend enabling its residents and visitors the chance to let their hair down for hours of great fun.

One of the three events is the sixth-annual World Wide Shania Twain Fan Convention, which began on Thursday and concludes on Sunday. The convention celebrates what else, but everything to do with Timmins' favourite country starlet. Though the number of people signed up for this year's homage to Twain is down from years past, the folks at the Shania Twain Centre have yet again put their best foot forward in not only representing the singer, but the city as well.

Convention organizers have planned for its patrons a number of activities such as a tour of the centre, rides on go-karts, a baseball game and karaoke. To the average reader, those activities may not seem like much, but those subtle activities make all the difference when it comes to Twain. Twain's biggest fans are interested in some of her favourite things, and by sharing some of her hobbies, her fans feel connected to her.

That is exactly why the convention boasts several loyal visitors who come year after year from as far away as Germany and the Netherlands.

On Sunday, Timmins will play host to the second Golden Trails Festival, a sporting event with several races, including a half marathon. While many local athletes will participate in the athletic competition, it will also draw a number of out-of-towners if last's year event is any indication.

Some may not find a 21-kilometre run to be the most appealing -- some may actually find it torturous -- but obviously a growing crowd is willing to endure the test to challenge itself. Through the festival, the city gets a chance to display its running talent, while proving that it can put on an event that tests the highest calibre of athletes.

Finally, the third big event on the weekend is Timmins Parties!, a day-long concert today at the McIntyre Curling Club. Taking the stage will be a number of different artists in various genres. The likes of DJ Acro, Total Spin, Dodger, Nobs, Buck 40, The Shaftmen, Swamprockers, Subroza, Trixx and JDiggz will strut their stuff in front of Timmins residents as well as even more visitors to the City with the Heart of Gold.

"This is a preliminary event to the 100th-anniversary celebration," said committee chairman Jack Watson. "It's a practice round for us to determine if the venue site is appropriate or if we can provide parking and other amenities."

The musical exhibition kick-starts four years worth of centennial celebrations for the city, which culminates in its 100th anniversary in 2012. Before that time, celebrations will also occur in 2010, recognizing the opening of the three major mines a century prior, and in 2011, recognizing the Great Porcupine Fire 100 years ago.

The Twain Fan Convention, Golden Trails Festival and Timmins Parties! as a package allows the city to show visitors what Timmins is all about -- a variety of people, skills, interests and successes that have put it on the map in its near 100-year existence. This weekend is an opportunity to show how diverse and rich the city is overall. Not only is it a proving ground to those from out of town, but to ourselves. Once in awhile, every city needs to remind itself of how great it is, and this weekend is certainly capable of opening the eyes of those who have been living here their entire lives.

Civic pride should be at its peak, sending visitors home highly regarding Timmins. At the same time, residents of Timmins hopefully will have a new-found respect for themselves for contributing to a thriving city.

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