The Shania Twain Centre in Timmins will be sold to Goldcorp for $5 million. The sale price was approved at a city council meeting Jan. 21.
The centre was declared surplus Jan.7 by council, and its sale to Goldcorp was approved.
Marc Lauzier, Porcupine Gold Mines general manager, said once the deal does go through, Goldcorp plans to dismantle the structure.
“It makes economic sense for us to purchase the centre and we have no plans for it,” he said. “That is where the surface expression of the ore is so that is how we make our financial justification for the purchase.”
The centre, which also houses the Gold Mine Tour, will close the end of January.
Mayor Tom Laughren said at a council meeting Jan. 7 that administration was authorized about 18 months ago to approach Goldcorp about the sale of the centre. A consultant's report released at that time indicated the centre was operating at a loss and that attendance at both attractions had been steadily declining.
Some new strategies for the tour and the exhibits are to be presented at a later council meeting.
“People will see the commitment we have to mining and to Shania Twain, but in a different format,” Laughren said.
Last summer, a good portion of the exhibits were removed from the centre by one of Twain's management companies. She and the management company had been informed of council's plans.
The centre has been opened since the summer of 2001 and was constructed for $6 million.