An international country-pop superstar, Shania Twain, and an international man of mystery, Mike Myers, are among the stars being honoured with a spot on Canada's Walk of Fame this year.
Myers, who was born in Scarborough, Ont., achieved international fame on Saturday Night Live before starring in the spinoff Wayne's World movies and the Austin Powers spy-spoof trilogy, will be feted along with SNL creator Lorne Michaels.
The other Canadian celebrities to be honoured with commemorative slabs of pavement on a Toronto street are:
- Hockey coaching legend Scotty Bowman
- Fashion model Linda Evangelista
- Figure skater Toller Cranston
- Equestrian Jim Elder
- For Better or Worse comic artist Lynn Johnston
- Comedian David Steinberg
- Composer Luc Plamondon
- Former Band guitarist Robbie Robertson
Organizer Peter Soumalias said all 11 inductees had agreed to attend the event — a sign that the five-year-old Canada Walk of Fame has caught on.
He also defended presenting the honour to Twain, who was raised in Timmins, Ont., but now lives in Switzerland.
One of the qualifications for the award — along with being born in Canada or spending formative or creative years here — is that candidates must have a minimum of 10 years of success.
Soumalias defended Twain from suggestions she has not been around for the required decade, saying her first album was released exactly 10 years ago.
"She has sold more records than any other female in the history of recorded music," he said.
With the 11 new additions, there will be 75 Canadian names on the walk, which is in downtown Toronto.
The Walk of Fame's board accepts nominations from the public — and got 250,000 suggestions this year, including many from Canadians abroad. The board makes the final decisions, however.
