MEDIA ALERT: Rocky Mountaineer Launches New Life Changing Train for Heroes

VANCOUVER, Sept. 30, 2013 /CNW/ -

What: Five wounded soldiers/veterans and their families from Canada, the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom, will board the inaugural journey of Rocky Mountaineer's annual Life Changing Train for Heroes on October 1, 2013 (tomorrow morning).

Over 600 attendees, including guests, Rocky Mountaineer employees and partners, will celebrate the launch of the program and honour the deserving heroes with a special ceremony just before the train pulls out of the station for an inspiring journey through BC and the Canadian Rockies.

Two Canadian soldiers (John Lowe from Cloverdale, BC and Paul Bornn from Ottawa, Ontario) will be taking part in the Life Changing Train for Heroes journey. For more details on their stories as well as the other soldiers from across the globe, go to rockymountaineer.com/heroes

Where: Rocky Mountaineer Station, 1755 Cottrell Street, Vancouver, BC

When: Tuesday, October 1, 2013, 6:30 am - 8:00 am

Event Highlights:

6:45 am - Vancouver Police Department escort the heroes and their families by VIP motorcade from The Fairmont Vancouver Airport to the Rocky Mountaineer Station in Vancouver. (Route details are available upon request.)

7:15 am - Heroes arrive at the Rocky Mountaineer Station and are greeted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and dozens of event attendees, who wave flags of four of the represented countries.

An RCMP bagpiper kicks off the ceremony and is followed by three other RCMP officers who march the special guests into the Station for the event.

7:20 am - A presentation by Randy Powell, President and CEO of Rocky Mountaineer.

7:30 am - An emotional tribute to the heroes by the Vancouver Technical Secondary School Chamber Choir

7:40 am - An historic "All Aboard" call led by one of the Canadian heroes and a family member.

7:40 - 7:50 am - Bagpiper leads the heroes and their families onto the platform, where they are available for short interviews and photos in front of the train.

8:00 am - Rocky Mountaineer train departs. The official "wave-off" by over 100 staff and event attendees on the platform. Heroes and their families wave back from the outdoor vestibule of their GoldLeaf Service coach.

***Media is invited to board the Rocky Mountaineer and ride the train to Thornton Yard (approximately 45 minutes away).  A Rocky Mountaineer vehicle will transport media back to the Rocky Mountaineer Station by approximately 10:15 am. 

Interviews:

6:30 - 7:00 am - Randy Powell, President & Chief Executive Officer of Rocky Mountaineer available for media interviews.

Kamloops Arrival:

5:30 pm - Arrival at the Kamloops Train Station, where dozens of members of the community will greet the train and the special guests onboard the Life Changing Train for Heroes.

Details: The Life Changing Train for Heroes is an annual program that recognizes and honours individuals and organizations that have made a significant impact on the lives of others. To celebrate the chosen heroes, Rocky Mountaineer will be taking them on a rail journey through Western Canada. The new initiative will provide inspiration to those who have selflessly given so much to help others as well as the families who supported them along the way. It will also raise awareness for the organizations that continue to provide assistance and encouragement.

This year, Rocky Mountaineer has partnered with organizations from all over the world that are dedicated to helping and supporting wounded soldiers/veterans. The heroes arrive in Vancouver on September 30 and will travel onboard the Rocky Mountaineer through BC and the Canadian Rockies with an overnight stop in Kamloops, BC. The trip ends in Lake Louise, Alberta on October 3, 2013.

B-roll or photos of the event are available upon request.

On-site contact:
Nancy Dery
Senior Manager, Global Communications
Rocky Mountaineer
Vancouver, BC
Cell: 778-835-6728
[email protected]

SOURCE: Rocky Mountaineer

Jason Leite
Jesson + Company Communications Inc.
77 Bloor Street West, suite 1903
Toronto, ON
416 323-7828
[email protected]