The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train is on its way across Canada for the 16th year in a row.
The brightly lit train left Montreal Nov. 26 and will stop in Revelstoke at the CP Rail parking lot off Victoria Road this Sunday, Dec. 14, from 4:45–6 p.m.
CP Rail organizers are aiming to generate healthier donations this year as the train makes its way across North America raising food, money and awareness for local food banks and food shelves.
The online #HealthyDonations Challenge encourages patrons attending Holiday Train events to take a second glance when pulling food out of their cupboards to ensure their non-perishable donations are nutritious and heart-healthy.
CP’s goal is to have 20,000 people take an online pledge to underscore how important it is that everyone has access to nutritious food.
Anyone who wishes to participate may do so at ‘You can show your commitment’ at http://bit.ly/1x6u4r8.
Food banks and food shelves welcoming the Holiday Train to their community this year are also being asked to commit 10 per cent or more of CP’s monetary donation to healthy food initiatives or purchases.
“We’re excited to once again see CP’s Holiday Train travel across the country in support of community food banks,” says Katharine Schmidt, executive director, Food Banks Canada. “When so many Canadians are struggling just to get enough food to eat, programs like this help to ensure so many families and individuals can access essential food.”
The U.S. and Canadian trains will make stops in more than 150 communities as they travel across North America.
The U.S. Holiday Train will travel across the U.S. Northeast and Midwest before its final show Dec. 17 in Weyburn, Saskatchewan, while the Canadian train will travel west and wrap up its journey Dec. 18 in Port Coquitlam.
Each Holiday Train event features performances by professional musicians including the pop rock band. In Revelstoke, Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo fame, and Tracey Browne will perform.
There’s no charge to attend a Holiday Train show, but patrons are asked to take a cash or non-perishable food donation. All money and food raised in a community stays there to help those in need locally.
The Revelstoke Community Band will be playing in the parking lot before the train arrives and the volunteer firefighters will be serving hot dogs and hot chocolate.
