MINNEAPOLIS, MN,
Nov. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - Canadian
Pacific's cross-country and cross-border food shelf drive has
launched its 13th year of raising money, food and awareness.
The CP Holiday Train, North America's longest-running rolling
fundraiser, has become an annual holiday tradition for many food
pantries. Two freight trains, both decked out in thousands of feet
of festive lighting, roll into communities on both sides of the
border with entertainers performing from a boxcar that has been
converted into a mobile stage.
The U.S. Holiday Train kicks off its unique journey
across eight U.S. States in the Northeast and Midwest with the
first stop at Rouses Point, New
York this evening and then wrapping up at Carpio, North Dakota on December 16th.
The Canadian train heads out on Sunday, November 27th with communities
- large and small - on its route through six provinces.
Since 1999, the CP Holiday Train has entertained
thousands while raising about $5.6
million and collecting over 2.5 million pounds of food for
local food shelf programs. For many food pantries along the
way, this is their major fundraiser for the next 12 months. In all,
the two specially-decorated trains will visit about 150 communities
with everything collected at each stop staying in that community
for local distribution.
Bringing holiday cheer and the important message of supporting
food shelves in the United States
will be veteran Milwaukee
folk-rocker Willy Porter, along with
Nashville country-music recording
artist Sydney Grigg. On the Canadian
Holiday Train, crowds will experience Canadian music legend Valdy.
Joining Valdy will be young Ottawa rockers, Brothers Dube' and
Canadian Country Music Hall of Famer Tracey
Brown.
The 2011 CP Holiday Train schedule, musician bios and other
information is on cpr.ca. As well, both Holiday Trains can be
followed on Facebook and on Twitter (@CPHolidaytrain).
Editor's Notes:
- Backgrounder attached
- High-resolution images are available on: www.cpr.ca
- Broadcast quality b-roll can be downloaded through CNW Video on
Demand:
http://cnw.pathfireondemand.com/viewpackage.action?packageid=498
- MP3 recordings of 2011 Holiday Train music can be downloaded
at:
https://www.yousendit.com/download/T2djK3BGSWh0NjhVV01UQwXX
Background:
- Planning for the Holiday Train begins at least seven months
prior to the fundraising kick off. This is a grassroots employee
effort. Thousands of CP workers volunteer for the special
fundraising journey every year - many taking their vacations to
work on each train - from train assembly to operations.
- Two Holiday Trains raising awareness and collecting money and
donations for hunger relief, crossing eight US states and six
Canadian provinces for a combined distance of about 10,000
kilometers (approx. 6,000 miles).
- The two trains will visit close to 150 communities in
Canada and the United States
Northeast and Midwest, in addition to many other stops along the
way.
- Each Holiday Train is about 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. They are each
decorated with hundreds of thousands of technology-leading LED
Christmas lights. Both Holiday Trains are powered by GE-built 4,400
hp high-performance locomotives with four diesel generators to
power the light systems.
- In addition to an even brighter train, this year's Holiday
Train program features an interactive website where you will be
able to read stories. Visit www.cpr.ca . As well, join the Holiday
Train on Facebook and follow the two trains on Twitter
@CPHolidaytrain
Fun Facts:
- Since 1999, we've traveled about 100,000 miles on the Holiday
Train - enough to go around the world more than 3 and a half
times
- It takes 30 "CP elves" 100 days to completely transform and
decorate the Holiday Trains before they start their journey across
Canada and the U.S.
- More than 100,000 lights glimmer across the Holiday Trains in
Canada and the U.S.
- CP has donated 40,000 pins to help Food Banks in Canada in the U.S. raise $200,000
Editor's notes:
- High-resolution images are available on: www.cpr.ca
- Broadcast quality b-roll can be downloaded through CNW Video on
Demand:
http://cnw.pathfireondemand.com/viewpackage.action?packageid=498
SOURCE Canadian Pacific
Video with caption: "2011 CP Holiday Train - Making a
difference, one stop at a time". Video available at:
http://stream1.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/playback.cgi?file=20111125_C9289_VIDEO_EN_7250.mp4&posterurl=http://photos.newswire.ca/images/20111125_C9289_PHOTO_EN_7250.jpg&clientName=Canadian%20Pacific&caption=2011%20CP%20Holiday%20Train%20%2D%20Making%20a%20difference%2C%20one%20stop%20at%20a%20time&title=CANADIAN%20PACIFIC%20%2D%202011%20CP%20Holiday%20Train