Media Advisory - Holiday Train Food Drive

TORONTO , Nov. 24 /CNW/ - Food Banks Canada and Canadian Pacific will provide a special media availability for Toronto and National media with the Holiday Train entertainers in the CP Toronto Rail Yard Tuesday, December 1 . The Holiday Train is North America's largest rolling mobile food and fundraiser, calling on 140 communities this year.

In these tough economic times, 20% more Canadians are turning to food banks for support this year and 30% more Americans are at risk of hunger. Hunger continues to be a problem and food banks need our help now more than ever. The Holiday Train is a corporate and public service organized and operated by Canadian Pacific's 16,000 employees across North America .

    
    Details for the media availability:

    Who:       Kathryn Schmidt, Food Banks Canada
               Blues Rocker Shaun Verreault of Wide Mouth Mason
               Power pop quartet The Odds
               Brother and sister duo Prescott
               Ottawa Valley blues singer Adam Puddington

    Time:      3:00 PM

    Date:      Tuesday, December 1

    Location:  Canadian Pacific Toronto Rail Yard
               General Yard Office
               2025 McCowan Road (north of Sheppard Avenue E)
               Scarborough
    

Map:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=43.79807,-79.254628&daddr=2025+McCowan+Rd,+Toronto,+ON,+Canada&hl=en&geocode=%3BCTHlY9UQ-0EDFZBAnAIdcpNG-ykH_1q1FtHUiTE44AaIlQ-DiA&mra=mi&mrsp=0&sz=19&sll=43.798029,-79.254604&sspn=0.000954,0.001714&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=19

    
    GPS coordinates:
    43.79807, -79.254628
    

About the Holiday Train:

The Holiday Train is a freight train covered in more than 200,000 bright lights. At 140 stops across Canada and United States , Canadian Pacific provides a box car stage, a line up of great musical talent and a corporate contribution to the local food bank. Food banks provide collection bins for non-perishable food. Communities, in turn, donate food and funds, all of which stays in the community. The Holiday Train has raised $4 million and 2 million pounds of food. Full schedules and background information are available at www.cpr.ca by clicking on the Holiday Train.

The event is the only time both the Canadian and American Holiday Trains meet during this year's tour.

    
    Greater Toronto Area Holiday Train stops:

    Monday, November 30
    Bowmanville - 7 p.m., Scugog Road crossing
    Oshawa - 8:45 p.m., Thornton Road crossing

    Tuesday, December 1
    Toronto - 6:30 p.m., 87 Ethel Avenue, adjacent to RONA
    *Hamilton - 8:15 p.m. (U.S. Train show), area of Kinnear Yard, opposite
    Gage Park
    Vaughan - 9:00 p.m., Northwest corner of CP Vaughn Intermodal Yard and
    Nashville Road, near grain elevator.

    Wednesday, December 2
    Midhurst (Barrie) - 1:00 p.m., 12 Anne Street North
    

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 1,100 communities where we operate. Canadian Pacific is proud to be the official rail freight services provider for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

For further information: Media contact: Mike LoVecchio, Senior Manager - Media Relations, Canadian Pacific, [phone] cell, [phone] 24/7 media pager