150 communities in Canada
and United States to experience
the 'train of lights'
CALGARY, Nov. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ - The 15th
year of Canadian Pacific's Holiday Train launches its annual
rolling fundraiser in support of food bank programs along its
network in Canada and the United States.
The 2013 CP Holiday Train program launches on November 25th in Kahnawake, Quebec, formally kicking off the
three-week journey of two brightly decorated trains across
Canada and the United States. The first U.S. fundraiser
is in Scranton, PA, on
November 26.
The two trains, each decorated with thousands of LED lights and
festive designs, along with musicians entertaining from a converted
box car stage will make stops in more than 150 cities, towns, and
villages with free family shows until December 19th.
Performing on the Canadian train will be Melanie Doane, Jim
Cuddy, Crystal Shawanda, and
Doc Walker, while on the U.S. train,
supporters will be entertained by The Claytones, Tracey Brown, and Willy
Porter.
To further celebrate the train's 15th anniversary and
to raise awareness of this serious issue even further, CP has
announced free signature concerts in Hamilton, ON, Calgary, AB, and Cottage Grove, MN, featuring Sheryl Crow, Sarah
McLachlan, Tom Cochrane with
Red Rider, The Tenors, Great Big
Sea, Matt Dusk, Natalie MacMaster,
and Take 6.
Every event is free, but attendees are asked to bring a cash or
non-perishable food donation for their local food shelf. Everything
raised at each event stays there for local distribution.
In addition to raising money and food for local food banks,
Canadian Pacific will match all donations to the Breakfast Club of
Canada and Feeding America during
this year's Holiday Train journey. People are encouraged to go to
www.breakfastclubcanada.org in Canada and www.feedingamerica.org/holidaytrain
in the United States to make a
donation that CP in turn will match dollar-for-dollar. This
matching program is above and beyond the donations made to
community food shelves at each stop.
Since 1999, the Holiday Train program has raised $7.4 million and 3 million pounds of food for
local food shelves.
For additional information, photos, a route map, and
downloadable pictures of the two trains, visit: www.cpr.ca.
Supporters can also join the Holiday Train on Facebook and
follow the two trains on Twitter @CPHolidaytrain
#CPHolidayTrain.
Broadcast b-roll available at:
http://www.cpr.ca/en/in-your-community/holiday-train/Pages/media.aspx
Backgrounder
Canadian Pacific Holiday Train
Canadian Pacific's annual Holiday Train program is considered to
be the longest running fundraising program in North America. The Holiday Train program
travels across Canada and
the United States raising money,
food, and awareness for food banks and hunger issues. The Holiday
Train reaches more than 150 communities each year for a combined
distance of 10,000 kilometres (approximately 6,000 miles).
What's a Holiday Train event like?
A typical Holiday Train event goes something like this: 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 ceremony takes place which involves local food bank
officials and other dignitaries. Once complete, the band resumes
its show. After about a half hour that usually includes a mix of
traditional and modern holiday-themed songs, the band plays its
farewell show, the boxcar door closes, and the train slips off into
the night on its way to the next stop.
Each Holiday Train is about 1,000 feet in length with 14
brightly decorated rail cars, including a modified boxcar that has
been turned into a traveling stage for performers. They are each
decorated with hundreds of thousands of technology-leading LED
lights and holiday designs.
What's the impact been?
Since 1999, the Holiday Train has raised close to $7.4 million and about 3 million pounds of food
for North American food banks. Everything raised in each community
stays in that community, and CP additionally makes donations at
each stop.
Fun Facts
- Since 1999, the Holiday Trains have covered approximately
100,000 miles, and entertained hundreds of thousands of
supporters.
- 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.
- In 2012, more than 20,000 candy canes were handed out to the
kids at Holiday Train events. In the 14 years of the Holiday Train
program, it is estimated over a quarter of a million candy canes
have been given out to children as treats.
SOURCE Canadian Pacific