The annual Holiday Train is coming

It’s a dream come true for the kid in all of us… combining something as Canadian as trains and as universal as Christmas magic! Canadian Pacific Railway launches the 19th edition of its Holiday Train, winding its way west from Montreal through Canada and the northeastern U.S. to make stops at 171 communities across the continent.

On Wednesday, Nov. 29, around the noon hour, one of those stops will take place just north of Barrie. CP Media Relations Advisor Mallory McCredie describes what all the excitement is about.

“The train arrives and pulls to a safe stop in front of the crowd. The stage door lowers and the band opens with its first song. After that, a brief presentation takes place with local food bank officials and other dignitaries.

“Once complete, the band resumes performing a mix of traditional and modern holiday-themed songs. The whole event lasts about 30 minutes. Once the band plays its farewell song, the stage door closes, and the train heads off to the next stop.”

But, McCredie also tells BarrieToday being near trains on the track is fun, but potentially very dangerous. “It's important to keep a safe distance away from the train so we can safely continue our journey.”

And, to salute Canada 150, McCredie spotlights the Canadian performers riding the rails.

“Colin James (Five Long Years, Surely (I Love You), Into the Mystic), is a Juno Award-winning singer-songwriter from Saskatchewan. He has played on stages across the world, sharing his talent with some of the greatest and most influential musicians of all time.”

Emma-Lee, from Toronto, whose debut album Never Just a Dream in 2008, shares the “bill” with Colin. Since then, she's wowed crowds the world over and her music has been featured in countless film and television shows.

“As a songwriter,” McCredie continues, “Emma-Lee (has collaborated) with artists in all genres and recently released a collection of songs inspired by her earliest musical memories of pop music from the 80s and 90s.” 

But, of course, Christmas involves more than just fun and games; there’s a lot of giving, too.

“We work closely with the Barrie Food Bank and Elmvale and District Food Bank to make these stops a success,” says McCredie. “The main objective of the Holiday Train is to raise awareness around hunger issues, by raising food and funds for local food banks. So while the events are free, we do ask that everyone bring down a donation to support those in need this holiday season."

CP points with pride to the $13 million and four million pounds the journey has raised on behalf of North American food banks. What’s more, “anything raised in a community stays in that community. In addition, CP makes donations at each stop.”

And Mallory adds CP workers feel as if the Holiday Train speaks to and for them.

“The program is an important community initiative for CP employees as more than 12,000 of us live and work in the more than 1,100 North American communities.”

McCredie concludes by saying the Holiday Train has only gathered steam, to use good railroad language, in the two decades it’s been running, and with good reason.

“The Holiday Train shines a bright light on the importance of supporting food banks. In some places, the Holiday Train program can raise the majority of money a food bank requires for the year.”

The CP Holiday Train makes its local stop at 12 Anne St. N., Wednesday, Nov. 29, from about 12 noon till about 1, so get there early and give generously. If you’d like to know more, click here.