A young girl from Ontario found strength in music while facing a harsh reality at home. After tragedy struck, she was thrust into the role of caregiver, putting her dreams aside to keep her family afloat. Years later, her voice, once a private escape, has become a source of inspiration worldwide.
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She was born into poverty in Timmins, Ontario, where her family struggled to meet basic needs. Her stepfather’s low-paying reforestation job and her mother’s struggle with depression left little room for change. As one of five children, she quickly learned to go without, finding solace in her love for singing.
Photo of the young girl, dated September 26, 2019 | | Source: Instagram.com/shaniatwain
Singing in bars from a young age, she found moments of escape and self-worth. But nothing could prepare her for the burdens she would face when, at just a young age, she was left to raise her siblings alone.
The musician and her acquaintances in the 1980s, posted in September 2022 | Source: Instagram.com/shaniatwain
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A Childhood in Poverty and Strife
From her earliest years, she knew what it was like to live without. Money was always tight, and her family often lacked essentials like food, heating, and even reliable lighting.
She quickly became aware of how different her life was from that of her classmates. Going to school without lunch, she would watch her peers and wonder if they’d leave an apple untouched, hoping she might take it later.
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To avoid the embarrassment of admitting she had no lunch, she’d tell her teacher it was “in her locker” or that she’d “forgotten it.” Music became her way of escaping these harsh realities, especially the persistent hunger.
She’d take her guitar and retreat into the forest, where she’d light a small fire and lose herself in the songs she played. The melodies helped her forget the emptiness in her stomach.
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