CALGARY, Nov. 10 /CNW/ - Now in its tenth year, Canadian Pacific's
brightly decorated Holiday Train will once again collect food and money for
local food banks, raise awareness in the fight against hunger. Starting at the
end of November, Canadian communities will rally together and celebrate the
holiday season with the Holiday Train and to music of 2008 Canadian Country
Music Association (CCMA) Male artist of the year Johnny Reid and country music
hall of famer Tracey Brown.
"The Holiday Train is North America's largest rolling fundraiser and a
cherished tradition for our employees and the communities where we operate,"
said CP President and CEO Fred Green. "Since 1999, the Holiday Train program
has helped to raise more than $3.56 million and 1.8 million pounds of food and
this year's celebration will help those totals rise."
"2008 has been a rewarding year for me and I'm excited to end it on such
a positive note, helping to bring awareness to food bank programs across
Canada," said Johnny Reid. " I encourage everyone to bring donations to our
Holiday Train stops and help feed the celebration in your community."
"Unfortunately hunger is a stubborn problem in our country", says
Katharine Schmidt, Executive Director of Food Banks Canada (formerly the
Canadian Association of Food Banks). "Support from companies like Canadian
Pacific is critical in addressing the short and long term solutions to
reducing hunger. The Holiday Train is a brilliant example of how communities
can draw together, even in challenging economic times, to celebrate the season
and generously support their local food bank. Congratulations on ten years of
community building and food raising."
Over 70 Canadian cities, towns and villages will experience the Holiday
Train spirit, starting in Montreal on November 29 and concluding in Port Moody
on December 18. In the U.S, a second Holiday Train will visit more than 40
communities from will experience the train of lights.
At each event, Canadian Pacific provides the train, a box car stage, a
line up of great Canadian music talent and a corporate contribution to the
local food bank. The community, in turn, encouraged to donate foods or funds,
all of which stays in their community.
About Canadian Pacific:
Canadian Pacific, through the ingenuity of its employees located across
Canada and in the United States, remains committed to being the safest, most
fluid railway in North America. Our people are the key to delivering
innovative transportation solutions to our customers and to ensuring the safe
operation of our trains through the more than 900 communities where we
operate. Come and visit us at www.cpr.ca to see how we can put our ingenuity
to work for you. Canadian Pacific is proud to be the official rail freight
services provider for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.Editors please note: For detailed schedules, musicians' biographies and
photos, a route map and downloadable pictures of the train, visit
www.cpr.ca and click the Holiday Train icon.
2008 CP Holiday Train Schedule - Canada
Schedule is subject to change
All times are local
Wednesday, November 26
Quebec
(*)Kahnawake (U.S. Train show) - 7:15 to 7:45 p.m. - Mohawk Reserve
(*)LaColle (U.S. Train show) - 9:15 to 9:45 p.m. - CP Station,
10 Ste. Marie
Saturday, November 29
Quebec
Beaconsfield- 7:00 to 7:45 p.m. - Beaconsfield Commuter Station
Sunday, November 30
Quebec
Les Cedres - 4:15 to 4:45 p.m. - CP crossing at Chemin St. Dominique
Ontario
Smiths Falls - 7:15 to 7:45 p.m. - Smith Falls Train Station,
64 Victoria St.
Monday, December 1
Ontario
Perth - 12:45 to 1:15 p.m. - Wilson St. Railroad Crossing, South side
Belleville - 4:30 to 5:00 p.m. - South Church St. crossing, south of
Dundas St. East
Trenton - 5:45 to 6:15 p.m. - RCAF Road Crossing, North of 8 Wing Base
(*)Hamilton - 8:00 to 8:30 p.m. (U.S. Train show) - Western Area of
Kinnear Yard, opposite Gage Park
Bowmanville - 9:15 to 9:45 p.m. - Scugog Road Crossing
Tuesday, December 2
Ontario
(*)Cambridge - 5:15 to 5:45 p.m. (U.S. Train show) -former Galt Station,
10 Malcolm St.
Toronto - 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. - 87 Ethel Avenue, adjacent to RONA
(*) London - 8:15 to 8:45 p.m. (U.S. Train show) - Richmond St. Railway
Crossing between Oxford and Central.
Vaughan - 9:00 to 9:30 p.m. -Northwest corner of CP Railroad crossing at
Nashville Road, near the old grain elevator.
Wednesday, December 3
Ontario
Midhurst - 1:00 to 1:30 p.m. - 12 Anne Street North
Mactier - 3:30 to 4:00 p.m. - Old CP Station
Parry Sound - 5:15 to 5:45 p.m. - Museum Train Station, 1 Avenue Rd.
Shawanaga - 6:30 to 6:50 p.m. - near Band office beside Railroad Crossing
at Village Road
(*) Windsor - 7:00 to 7:30 p.m. (U.S. Train show) - CP Rail Yard at Erie
St. W and Janette St.
Sudbury - 9:45 to 10:15 p.m. - VIA Train Station, Elgin St.
Thursday, December 4
Ontario
Cartier - 11:15 to 11:45 a.m. - CP Train Station, 3 Spence St.
Chapleau - 5:00 to 5:30 p.m. - CP Train Station, 50 Dufferin St.
White River - 9:30 to 10:00 p.m. - CP Train Station, 102 Winnipeg St.
Friday, December 5
Ontario
Mobert - 9:15 to 9:45 a.m. - across from Band Office
Heron Bay - 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon - old CP Train Station, beside Esso
Building
Marathon - 1:00 to 1:30 p.m. - beside Curling Club parking lot,
Stevens Ave.
Schreiber - 3:45 to 4:15 p.m. - CP Yard at Cenotaph, beside Harvest Food
Cupboard building
Nipigon - 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. - CP Yard, across from Nipigon Inn,
60 Front Street
Thunder Bay - 9:45 to 10:15 p.m. - CP Train Station,
440 Syndicate Avenue
Saturday, December 6
Ontario
Ignace - 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. - CP Train Station
Dryden - 3:00 to 3:30 p.m. - CP Yard Entrance, Queen St. and Earl Ave.
Kenora - 6:00 to 6:30 p.m. - CP Old South Yard, across from Wholesale
Store - 8th Ave. entrance
Manitoba
Whitemouth - 9:00 to 9:30 p.m. - Railway Ave. across from Whitemouth
Hotel
Sunday, December 7
Manitoba
Winnipeg - 2:00 to 2:30 p.m. - Molson St., between Panet Road and
Munroe Ave.
Portage La Prairie - 5:15 to 5:45 p.m. - 301-3rd St. NE. - opposite
Centennial Arena
Brandon - 8:15 to 8:45 p.m. - across from the CP Station, 1000
Assiniboine Avenue
Monday, December 8
Saskatchewan
Broadview - 1:00 to 1:30 p.m. CP Train Station, 1 Railway Ave.
Indian Head - 3:15 to 3:45 p.m. - north side of Indian Head Siding
between section buildings and Highway 56 crossing
Regina - 5:15 to 5:45 p.m. - Taylor Field, Stadium parking Lot
Moose Jaw - 7:15 to 7:45 p.m. - west of CP Train Station,
3 Manitoba St. West
Tuesday, December 9
Saskatchewan
Swift Current - noon to 12:30 p.m. - just east of CP Train Station,
3rd St. & North Railway Ave.
Maple Creek - 3:00 to 3:30 p.m. - CP TMS Facility on Pacific Avenue
Alberta
Medicine Hat - 5:30 to 6:00 p.m. - just east of CP Train Station, Queen &
North Railway St.
Tilley - 7:45 to 8:15 p.m. - Southeast side of crossing at Highway 877
Brooks - 9:15 to 9:45 p.m. - 1st Ave. behind Civic Building
Thursday, December 11
Alberta
Lacombe - 2:15 to 2:45 p.m. - East side of the tracks between 46 Ave. &
Highway 2A
Ponoka - 4:00 to 4:30 p.m. - 50th St. and 47th Ave.
Hobbema - 5:15 to 5:45 p.m. - East side of the main CP crossing in
Hobbema, at intersection of Highway 611 and Highway 2A
Leduc - 7:15 to 7:45 p.m. - Extra Foods, 3915 50th Ave.
Friday, December 12
Alberta
Josephburg - 5:15 to 5:45 p.m. - Moyer Recreational Centre, 54596 RR215
Edmonton - 8:30 to 9:00 p.m. - North of the Edmonton CP station,
7935 Gateway Blvd.
Saturday, December 13
Alberta
Red Deer - 9:45 to 10:15 a.m. - CP Rail Yard adjacent to the
Administration Building, 6867 Edgar Industrial Drive
Didsbury - 12:30 to 1:00 p.m. - 19th St. and 18th Ave.
Airdrie - 2:15 to 2:45 p.m. -Nose Creek Park
Calgary - 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. - Sunny Side Nursery parking lot, 3439
69th St NW
Sunday, December 14
Alberta
Cochrane - 3:15 to 3:45 p.m. - between River Ave. and 4th St., behind
Provincial Building
Canmore - 5:30 to 6:00 p.m. - Railway pedestrian crossing behind Sobeys
Banff - 6:45 to 7:15 p.m. - Banff CP Station
Monday, December 15
British Columbia
Golden - 4:15 to 4:45 p.m. - across from 7-11 Store, 10th Ave.
Revelstoke - 8:00 to 8:30 p.m. - Victoria Road adjacent to CP parking lot
Tuesday, December 16
British Columbia
Sicamous - 4:30 to 5:00 p.m. - northwest corner of Highway 1 at Silver
Sand Road intersection, east of Draw Bridge
Salmon Arm - 6:15 to 6:45 p.m., Lordco parking lot, 51 Lake Shore
Drive NE
Notch Hill - 8:15 to 8:45 p.m., Davies Road - Notch Hill Road Crossing
across from Notch Hill Hall, 1639 Notch Hill Rd.
Wednesday, December 17
British Columbia
Chase - 4:15 to 4:45 p.m. - north side of Shuswap Ave., across from Chase
RCMP Detachment
Kamloops - 7:00 to 7:30 p.m. - North side of Interior Savings on
Lorne Street.
Thursday, December 18
British Columbia
Ashcroft - 2:00 to 2:30 p.m. - in area of CP facility on Railway Ave.
Lytton - 4:45 to 5:15 p.m. - in area of CP facility on Station Road
North Bend - 7:30 to 8:00 p.m. - east of CP Terminal
(xx)Saskatchewan (U.S. Holiday Train Shows)
North Portal - noon to 12:30 p.m. - Town Centre
Estevan - 5:00 to 5:30 p.m. - east of CP Station at vacant lot off
7th St.
Weyburn - 7:45 to 8:15 p.m. - 512 Railway St.
Friday, December 19
British Columbia
Agassiz - 5:15 to 5:45 p.m. - west of Highway 9, across from Agra Centre,
Pioneer Ave.
Maple Ridge - 7:45 to 8:15 p.m. - across from Billy Minor Pub
Port Moody - 9:30 to 10:00 p.m. - on Queen St. at Clark Ave.
Please note: Additional communities are in the process of being
confirmed.
Backgrounder: Canadian Pacific Holiday Train
- The Holiday Train Program began in 1999 with a handful of communities
and a few lights on a freight train. Today, with its hundreds of
thousands of festive lights and a live show featuring well known
performers, it's one of Canadian Pacific's main ambassadors in
working with communities in Canada and the United States and is the
only fundraiser of its kind for food banks in North America.
- Planning for the Holiday Train each year begins at least seven months
prior to the fundraising kick off.
- The Holiday Train requires more than a thousand employee volunteers -
from train assembly, to light design, to event production and
security, to safety and planning compliance, to operations. This
includes most of our terminals and offices, where local employees
plan food drives to coordinate with the arrival of the train.
- Since its launch in 1999, the Holiday Train program has raised over
$3.56 million and more than to 1.8 million pounds of food for
North American food banks. All donations collected in a community
remain in that community for local distribution.
- In 2007, more than $600,000 and 316,000 pounds of food were
raised by concerned Canadians and Americans.
2008 Holiday Train
- Two Holiday Trains raising awareness and collecting money and
donations for hunger relief, crossing seven U.S. states and six
Canadian provinces for a combined distance of approximately 10,400
kilometers (6,500 miles).
- This year, the two trains will visit more than 125 communities in
Canada and the United States Northeast and Midwest, in addition to
many other short stops along the way.
- Each Holiday Train is about 305 meters (1,000 feet) in length with 14
decorated rail cars, including a modified box car that has been
turned into a traveling stage for performers. The two trains are
assembled and decorated by CP employees in Montreal, Smiths Falls,
Chicago and Calgary.
- The U.S. and Canadian Holiday Trains are each decorated with hundreds
of thousands of energy efficient LED lights. Both Holiday Trains are
powered by GE-built 4,400 hp high-performance locomotives, with four
additional diesel generators to power the light systems.
- Joining the 2008 Holiday Train in Canada is 2008 Canadian Country
Music Association Male artist of the year, Johnny Reid. Reid will be
joined by Holiday Train favourite and Country Music Hall of Fame
performer Tracey Brown, who recently released her second solo CD,
"Alone." The US Holiday Train will be graced with the presence of
Juno award winning singer songwriter Melanie Doane and Canadian blues
rocker Shaun Verreault, of Wide Mouth Mason fame.
- The 30-minute live musical presentations are FREE - all that's asked
is that guests bring non-perishable foodstuffs for their local food
banks.
- In celebration of a decade of raising food, funds and awareness for
the needy across North America, Canadian Pacific has produced a
special anniversary CD/DVD featuring sights and sounds of the Holiday
Train. This special CD/DVD will only be available for purchase at a
Holiday Train event in your community.
/NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available on
the CNW Photo Network and archived at http://photos.newswire.ca.
Additional archived images are also available on the CNW Photo Archive
website at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited
members of the media/
For further information: Breanne Feigel, Manager, Media Relations,
Canadian Pacific, (403) 589-6949, breanne_feigel@cpr.ca; or Mike LoVecchio,
Senior Manager, Media Relations, Canadian Pacific, (778) 772-9636,
mike_lovecchio@cpr.ca
10th Anniversary Canadian Pacific Holiday Train logo. (CNW Group/Canadian Pacific Railway)
