MONTREAL — Two of Canada's biggest stars were twinkled beside each other Thursday as pop diva Celine Dion was honoured with a spot at Montreal's Promenade of Celebrities. A bronze star with Dion's name was placed in the sidewalk outside the old Montreal forum, now known as the Pepsi Forum. The star is next to the one for hockey legend Maurice (Rocket) Richard.

More than 800 people, including the families of both Dion and Richard, packed the forum for the late afternoon event also attended by federal Heritage Minister Sheila Copps, Quebec Premier Bernard Landry and Montreal Mayor Gerald Tremblay.

Dion and husband Rene Angelil waved to her admirers as they swooped down from an upper level in a glassed-walled elevator. They then mounted the stage to hear a string of tributes before the star was unveiled.

Dion, whose hair was a lighter shade and tinted redder than her usual auburn locks, wore a black open corset-style top with matching black cropped pants as she perched in a director's chair for the glowing speeches.

The diva, who is given to an aw-shucks style of coping with compliments, fiddled nervously with her hair and top while the speakers praised her.

"For me and millions of others around the world, Celine Dion has an incomparable talent," said Landry.

More people filled the street outside the facility, which is no longer used for concerts or hockey games and is now an entertainment complex that houses a movie theatre, restaurants and a Future Shop franchise.

Thursday's tribute was the latest for Dion, who is gearing up for a lavish stint in Las Vegas, where she has been booked for a three-year run at Caesars Palace in a theatre being built especially for her. The show will open next March.

Besides flogging her comeback album A New Day Has Come and caring for her infant son, Dion was tabbed this year as a spokesperson for the Quebec Tourism Department to promote the province.

She also endured a barrage of unwanted publicity after a Las Vegas woman accused her husband, Rene Angelil, of raping her two years ago. The woman was later charged with being a fugitive from justice in California.

Dion, who grew up in Charlemagne, Que., but took up residence in the United States after rising to international stardom, has won a number of international music awards, including Grammys and Junos.