CP Holiday Train ‘Back on the Rails’

(Photograph Courtesy of CP)

Canadian Pacific (CP) will kick off its Holiday Train tour next month, after a two-year hiatus, to raise money, food and awareness for local food banks in communities along its network.

Due to the pandemic, CP did not run the train in 2020 and 2021, but broadcast virtual concerts and encouraged Canadians and Americans to donate to its annual giving program.

This year, the CP Holiday Train program has two trains, one that travels exclusively in Canada and another with stops in both Canada and the U.S. The tour will feature 168 live shows. While free to attend, CP is asking attendees to bring a cash or non-perishable food donation if they’re able. Collection stations will be set up at each event, with all donations made staying with the local food bank.

The U.S. Holiday Train is scheduled to depart Montreal on Nov. 22 and will feature Brittany Kennell and Don Amero performing in Jackman, Brownville Junction and Hermon, Maine, and in eastern townships of Quebec. Lindsey Ell and Texas will perform for communities in New York, southern Ontario, and down through Chicago to Kansas City. Alan Doyle and Kelly Prescott will pick up the tour in Iowa and finish the train’s journey back to Canada with the final show in Weyburn, Saskatchewan, on Dec. 18.

CP said the Canadian Holiday Train will depart Montreal on Nov. 27 and travel west to Vancouver. Performing from Montreal to Calgary are Tenille Townes and Aysanabee, while artists McKenzie Porter and Virginia to Vegas will finish the tour departing out of Calgary and wrapping up in the greater Vancouver area on Dec. 18.

Since the Holiday Train program launched in 1999, it has raised more than $21 million and collected five million pounds of food for community food banks across North America, according to CP.

“I’m grateful to the CP team members who adapted during the COVID-19 pandemic to deliver two exceptional virtual Holiday Train shows and to all those who continued to donate while we kept community members safe,” CP President and CEO Keith Creel said. “The Holiday Train is all about families and communities coming together to celebrate the season and help those in need. We are excited to be back out on the rails and in our communities, taking these two beautiful trains across our network and sharing the joy that comes with gathering in the spirit of giving.”