Shania Twain Centre may be shut down

The future of the Shania Twain Centre is once again up for debate.

Timmins city council will look at what to do with the money-losing tourist attraction — including selling it — as the venue has struggled to attract tourists from the day it opened in 2001.

The multi-million-dollar shrine to the singer, who moved to the community when she was two years old, continues to cost Timmins taxpayers hundreds of thousands every year. The city's gold mine tour is experiencing similar issues.

Timmins city council was already weighing its options when, this past summer, Twain moved most her memorabilia out of her namesake centre. Monday night councillors were expected to discuss the future of the centre — first in private — and then at a public council meeting.

Councillors said the private session will likely deal with the possibility of selling the Shania Twain Centre.

No final decision was expected Monday, but there could be some fiery debate, as the centre has divided voters — and councillors — in her hometown.