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Former Deerhurst manager wants to see Shania Twain one more time

By Joe Warmington,Toronto Sun | Saturday, December 22, 2012 06:00 PM CST

MISSISSAUGA - All John Kotowski wants for Christmas is to see his protégé Shania Twain one more time and tell her he will Forever and For Always be proud of her.

It might be difficult since last time the 81-year-old tried, security kept him away.

“They were polite but seven security guards were assigned to watch me,” the former Deerhurst executive said with a chuckle Saturday. “Her management did not want her talking to me.”

After all the frightening stalking stories Shania has had to endure, they are always on their guard.

But it’s not like that, insists Polish-born Kotowski, who says he once “wrote a cheque for a $1-million” to buy Deerhurst.

“It’s contractual,” he said of why those who “stole her away from me” keep them separated.

He is sure she would yell “Come on Over” and embrace him.

“She remembers me very well but there are people who don’t want to acknowledge her Deerhurst (development) period,” he said. “I took care of her as if she was my own child.”

What he doesn’t have any more are pictures of them together. Or any contracts or paper work to show ownership in Deerhurst, which on line postings refer to him as a former GM.

Calls are out to Twain’s management in Los Angeles, Nashville as well as to her fan club in Timmins and former stage performers at Deerhurst.

But Kotowski is mentioned in Robin Eggar’s biography on Shania as someone who “lavished” her and who was subject of gossip about the two of them being “flirtatious” and he having affections for her.

“You hear of me being a lover but the stuff in the National Enquirer was never true,” he said, adding his boots have only been under the bed he shares with his “wife Monica for 57 years.”

Turns out this is more a story of redemption, recognition, appreciation.

His obsession might be getting somebody to acknowledge he helped get Shania on her road to incredible stardom.

The story was billed by a caller to the Toronto Sun as an elderly homeless couple who were staying at a shelter being brought into a warm condo by a good-hearted, down-on-his-luck, laid-off factory worker at Christmas.

And while that appears to be the case, neither side would discuss or acknowledge the homeless shelter part.

“They are a very nice couple who have been staying with me for three weeks,” said Nick Renshaw, 46. “I had no idea about John’s amazing story and it came out one night. Maybe Shania would like to know where he is now and see him again.”

John and Monica Kotowski regaled me and photographer Veronica Henri with entertaining anecdotes of how John hired Eilleen Regina Edwards even though the soon to be famous Deerhurst Entertainment Show was already over budget.

He thought, “With her talent everybody needs to know,” Kotowski said.

“I saw her ability to entertain,” he said of how she impressed him much and why he invested “thousands” in her.

Kotowski said he paid her dental work, supplied her clothes, transportation and an apartment on the resort, encouraged her to sing country music, as well as paying for recording sessions.

There are reports of Twain denying much of this — although Kotowski said this was because her management didn’t want to “pay me royalties.”

Said Monica: “She was a very nice person. She even came to sing to John when he was in the hospital.”

But they lost contact with her after she left Deerhurst around 1990.

“I never got one cent,” said Kotowksi. “I had a contract and I could have sued, I guess, but I wanted to keep it simple so she could succeed. That’s all I wanted. I let her go.”

It has kind of a nice tabloid-style story feel to it: ‘Shania Twain headlines Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas while couple who helped get her started are offered shelter by a unemployed Good Samaritan.’

However Kotowski said it’s not a Gonna Getcha Good kind of deal and there has never been any ill will.

“We are fine, we don’t need money,” he said, adding staying with Renshaw is temporary.

Shania Twain is proudly in his past, he says and in fact, from this moment on, he is looking for the next one.

“I have found a new beautiful singer in Poland, who sang with Andrea Bocelli.”

But, he admits, there is something unfinished with Shania.

“I am sure we will get together again,” he said with a smile. “I don’t want anything from her. I just want to say ‘Hi.’ Maybe it will happen in Las Vegas.”

If so, it will be interesting to see if there are bodyguards this time saying “Don’t be Stupid” or if she says to an old mentor “You’re Still the One” and a reunion begins after more than two decades and 50-million records sold.

http://www.torontosun.com/2012/12/22/former-deerhurst-manager-wants-to-see-shania-twain-one-more-time