A young Ontario girl found her strength in music while facing a harsh reality at home. After a tragedy, she found herself in the role of caregiver, putting her own dreams aside to keep her family afloat.
Years later, her voice, once just a private escape, has become a source of inspiration worldwide.
She was born into poverty in Timmins, Ontario, where her family struggled to meet their basic needs. Her stepfather’s low-paying reforestation work and her mother’s battle with depression left little room for change. As a member of a family of five, she quickly learned to go without, finding solace in her passion for singing. From a young age, she knew what it was like to live without.
She quickly became aware of the difference between her life and that of her classmates. When she went to school without lunch, she would watch her classmates and wonder if they left an apple, hoping she could take it later.
At just 22 years old, she experienced a tragedy that completely changed her life. Her mother and stepfather died suddenly in a car accident, leaving her to care for her younger siblings.
As the second oldest child, she was now responsible for raising them, a role she never expected. After years of struggle, grief and resilience, this girl from Timmins, Ontario became a world-famous music icon: Shania Twain.
