CALGARY, Oct. 14, 2015 /CNW/ - The Canadian Pacific (CP)
Holiday Train will be traveling across Canada and the
United States again this November and December raising
money, food and awareness for food banks and hunger issues. Since
its launch in 1999, the program has raised more than C$10.6 million and 3.6 million pounds of food for
North American food banks and shelves.
"Year after year, the Holiday Train brings great talent and
memorable experiences to families across our network while raising
money for local food banks and food shelves," said E. Hunter Harrison, CP Chief Executive Officer.
"Regardless of circumstances, everyone should have access to
healthy, nutritious food. The Holiday Train plays an integral role
in broadening the conversation around food and hunger issues across
North America."
Again this year, the Holiday Train program is encouraging people
attending events to bring heart healthy donations. Heart health
education and awareness is a tenet of CP's community investment
program, CP Has Heart, which focuses on improving the heart health
of men, women and children in communities across North America.
"CP's train of lights provides a platform to speak about the
needs of North American food banks. This is why we are challenging
all our event attendees to reach into their cupboards and donate
quality nutritious food items to help raise food for those who need
it most this holiday season," said Katharine Schmidt, Executive Director, Food
Banks Canada.
The two brightly lit trains will kick off in the Montreal area on November 27 and 28 on their way to visit
approximately 150 communities. The "Canadian Train" travels west
across Canada finishing its
journey in Port Coquitlam, British
Columbia. The "US Train" visits communities across the U.S.
Northeast and Midwest, and returns back to Canada for shows in Saskatchewan and Alberta.
Montreal/Winnipeg band Chic Gamine will kick the tour
off from the boxcar stage, with Francophone performances in
Quebec. Holiday Train veteran and
award-winning country singer Kelly
Prescott will then take the reins on the Canadian Train with
Devin Cuddy, and CP's famed Holiday
Train band.
Once the Canadian train completes its journey across the
prairies and arrives in Calgary,
Devin Cuddy will reunite with his
father, Canadian song-writing legend Jim
Cuddy of Blue Rodeo and continue the trip with Kelly and the
band until they reach the west coast.
The U.S. Train, which also makes stops in Southern Ontario, will showcase one of
Canada's brightest young country
music stars, Kira Isabella. Kira
will rock the stage with chart topping jack-of-all-trades
Wes Mack, until the Doc Walker
country legends come aboard in Chicago.
The online schedule is now live at www.cpr.ca/holiday-train and
lists which performers are stopping where and when.
Each year, fans of the Holiday Train follow its journey over
social media, posting spectacular images of the trains in various
cities and landscapes. Those who capture the spirit of the train,
holiday entertainment and the spirit of giving are encouraged to
enter the "Capture the Spirit" photo contest for the chance to win
an exclusive ride on next year's train. Details about the contest
will be available closer to the start of the program on the Holiday
Train Facebook page.
To help make this year the best yet for local food banks, the
Holiday Train asks fans new and old to follow the train on social
media, invite their friends and family and spread the message about
the importance of heart-healthy donations by using
#HealthyDonations.
Facebook /HolidayTrain
Twitter @CPHolidayTrain
Instagram @CPHolidayTrain
Use #CPHolidayTrain and #HealthyDonations
For additional information, photos, a route map, and
downloadable pictures of the two trains, visit: www.cpr.ca.
Note to editors:
- For additional information, photos, a route map, broadcast
b-roll, and downloadable pictures of the two trains, visit:
cpr.ca.
About the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train
Canadian Pacific's annual Holiday Train program is a rolling
fundraising event that travels across Canada and the
United States raising money, food, and awareness for food
banks and hunger issues, hosting free holiday concerts along the
way. Since 1999 the program has raised over C$10.6 million and 3.6 million pounds of food.
Each Holiday Train is about 1,000 feet in length with 14 rail cars
decorated with hundreds of thousands of technology-leading LED
lights and a modified boxcar that has been turned into a traveling
stage for performers.
About CP Has Heart
At CP, we know that a railroad may serve as the arteries of a
nation, but at its heart is community. That's why, through CP Has
Heart, we've already committed more than $6
million dollars to help improve the heart health of men,
women and children across North
America. And along the way, we're showing heart whenever we
can. Find out more on www.cpr.ca or @CPhasHeart.
About Canadian Pacific
Canadian Pacific (TSX:CP)(NYSE:CP) is a transcontinental railway in
Canada and the United States with direct links to eight
major ports, including Vancouver
and Montreal, providing North
American customers a competitive rail service with access to key
markets in every corner of the globe. CP is growing with its
customers, offering a suite of freight transportation services,
logistics solutions and supply chain expertise. Visit cpr.ca to see
the rail advantages of Canadian Pacific.
SOURCE Canadian Pacific
Image with caption: "Canadian Pacific Holiday Train (CNW
Group/Canadian Pacific)". Image available at:
http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20151014_C9992_PHOTO_EN_44312.jpg