TORONTO -- Americans celebrities may be taking a pass on Toronto these days because of strident U.S. media coverage of the SARS outbreak, but it's not keeping Shania away, or Lorne, Scotty or Mike. "From the 11 Canadians, none," boasts Peter Soumalias, chairperson of the board for Canada's Walk of Fame, when asked if any of the homegrown celebrities scheduled to attend this year's gala induction event tomorrow night were bowing out.

"Some of them do have American representation and they had to be given information to persuade them that their celebrities will not die when they come to Toronto."

But it does look as if a large part of the stars' posses received warnings by insurance companies that if they needed hospitalization while in the city, they would not be covered. As a result, many supporters and friends who wanted to share the evening of honours won't be coming.

Soumalias isn't surprised.

Two weeks ago, he was sitting in the New York City office of Saturday Night Live creator/producer Lorne Michaels -- one of this year's inductees -- and the TV set was tuned to a Fox News report that likened Toronto to a leper colony.

"The lead story was 'People in Toronto keep dying, two more deaths were reported.' And I looked at Lorne and said 'Lorne, I'm not going back home. I better call and see if my kids are living.' I don't blame people in the U.S., the way it's reported."

The Walk of Fame was begun in 1998 and now boasts the names of 75 Canadians who have made it in show business, the arts or sports. Those names are displayed on plaques embedded in a strip of sidewalk in the city's downtown theatre district.

But stars attending the ceremony get more than a chance to see their plaques unveiled. A formal tribute gala is set for tomorrow night at Roy Thomson Hall.

Backstage, there'll be an eclectic gathering of big names, with sports-mad show-biz stars rubbing shoulders with their athletic idols and sports heroes getting to meet their favourite entertainers.

"Mike Myers is gonna be all over Scotty Bowman, trying to persuade him to coach the Leafs and win a Stanley Cup," Soumalias said. "That's guaranteed. I'll tell you Shania is going to be thrilled to spend time with Robbie Robertson, and on it goes."

Soumalias has always boasted the Canadian Walk of Fame differs from its famous Hollywood antecedent, in that the stars do not pay to have their names placed on the walk and that they are selected for a body of work that stretches back at least 10 years.

This year, for example, while it is considered the No. 1 tourist attraction in Los Angeles, the Hollywood Walk will be enshrining such fledgling performers as Britney Spears and the Olson twins, Mary-Kate and Ashley. Soumalias says, however, that Avril Lavigne and even the Barenaked Ladies, as talented as they are, will have to wait a while before qualifying in this country.

All 11 inductees this year are living, but some posthumous names will be added in the fall. This was the first time everyone agreed to attend and Soumalias felt that was plenty, especially for the two-hour tribute that will be carried live tomorrow night at 9 p.m. on Global TV.

"You cannot go into deceased Canadians without looking at the Louis B. Mayers, Jack Warners and Marie Dresslers and, you know, Lorne Greene."

This year's 11 inductees are Michaels; Myers, best known for his Austin Powers film satires; Bowman, one of the NHL's winningest coaches; Robertson, a musician who first won renown as a member of the Band; hit singer Shania Twain; figure skater Toller Cranston; Olympic equestrian Jim Elder; fashion model Linda Evangelista; cartoonist Lynn Johnston; songwriter and playwright Luc Plamondon, and actor, comedian and director David Steinberg.

This year, inductees also receive a new crystal sculpture designed by Canadian artist Mark Raynes Roberts, who spent a year researching the design.

A survey done for the Walk board this year found that the honour is now felt by Canadians to be the No. 2 celebrity award, just behind the Governor General's Awards but ahead of the Genies and Geminis.

IF YOU WATCH

What: Walk of Fame inductions

When: Tomorrow at 9 p.m.

Where: Global