CP Holiday Train Blog

Holiday Train in Minot

A video our crew snapped of the band in Minot, North Dakota

Seeing beyond Santa...

We received this note from a friend of the Holiday Train this week:

"Sometimes you just don't know who you are going to inspire. My 10 year old son, JT, is learning about poems in school. His class project was to write a personal poem about the holidays. Attached is the poem he wrote. Thanks so much to you and the team for inspiring my child and helping him see beyond Santa."

The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train

The Train is coming,
I can hear it.
The Season is coming,
I can feel it.
Bright lights.
Happy faces.
Joyous people
Everywhere.

But I can’t forget
Those who need.
Hoping for food and
Hoping for money.
They can’t be happy
Without their daily needs.

The Holiday Train.
The train brings hope
down the tracks.

The train’s not
Just about
Pretty lights and
Cheerful songs.
It was made to
Warm the hearts
Of the hungry.

The train travels
Far and wide,
To collect food
And money for
Those in need.

It brings a party in a package.
It brings people together.
It brings hope.
It makes us care.
It makes us remember.

The Holiday Train
 Is there to
“Lend a helping hand.”

Standing on the platform
I am waiting.
Clanging.
It is coming.

Like a beacon in the night
I can see it.
It warms my heart.
The lights are glowing
Like a second sun.
Lighting the darkness
And illuminating the cause.

The engine roars through the station.
It takes my breath away.
It inspires me to do more.
To be more.
To help more.

Such a powerful train,
with a powerful message.
A moment in the night
A change in me
Forever.

The Holiday Train
and I
 are there to
“Lend a helping hand.”

The Holiday Train enters North Dakota!

The U.S. Holiday train arrived this evening in Hankinson, ND, after several fantastic days in Minnesota. The train was greeted by a firework show that was a sight to see.

Willy Porter, Sydney Grigg, and Red Plaid Jacket rocked to singing and dancing crowds all night! It was great to see all of the communities of Elbow Lake, Hankinson and Enderlin come together for their area food shelves. There is a lot of support which is what the season is all about!

Thank you to all who came out and for all of your support.

Nicole S.

BC shows its holiday spirit

As always, it has been a pleasure rolling through the gorgeous scenery in British Columbia: valleys, lakes, trees, waterfalls. The trip down to Nelson and back up to Cranbrook, while mostly devoid of cell service, is one that cannot be missed.

But it's the community spirit that never ceases to boggle our minds. 

Like the small community of Notch Hill last night. Literally, less than 5 buildings dot the landscape. There's no mayor, although there are definitely people who take the lead. But yet hundreds come out from miles around to the show that we've put on for the past eight years. Bonfires keep the people warm as we pulled up and prepped for the show. This is a place that knows what the word "community" means, truly.

And Sicamous - had a poster contest and the winner, Daisy Mae, got the chance to ride the Holiday Train with our special invited guest Mayor Darrell Trouton. What an amazing way to spread the word about the Holiday Train AND give an amazing experience to someone who otherwise might not ordinarily have the chance.

Radium is always a shining start for community spirit. The fires, hot chocolate sales, different groups with booths supporting the event... we are always happy to stop by and entertain the masses that come out for the show.

What are some best practices that YOUR community puts on for or to advertise the Holiday Train? :)

Danelle W.

Generous community donates more than $162,000 for a new Annandale food shelf

[press release]

The Annandale Food Shelf is getting a new building to meet the growing demand for their services. 

The food shelf is managed by a very strong and talented staff of unpaid volunteers. With the huge growth of families needing help they have outgrown the current rented facilities. The new building, announced tonight from the CP Holiday Train stage, is expected to be completed by September of 2012.

“We’re proud of the volunteers that operate the food shelf,” said Don Nelson of Anchor Dock & Lift. “A big thank you to the caring customers and business partners of Anchor Dock & Lift who have helped make the new building possible, and to M&M Bus Company, who have donated transportation services to the Holiday Train event.”

For the last five years Anchor Dock & Lift in Annandale Minnesota has hosted a Train Party prior to the Holiday Train arrival. The main agenda is to thank their many friends, customers and business partners. Last year it was attended by 125 customers and business partners and raised just over $12,000.00 dollars for the Annandale Food Shelf. 

This year with a donation from the Morgan Family Foundation of $150,000.00 the total donation will exceed $162,434. The new owners of Anchor Dock & Lift, Jefferson and Joelle Bishop are committed to continuing and funding this ever growing tradition.

“Canadian Pacific is honored that the Holiday Train was chosen for this announcement,” said Doug McFarlane, CP Vice-President Operations – US. “It really captures the community spirit that drives the Holiday Train.”

Anders "Snowball" Derup's blog

Hey everyone!! Snowball here. This year’s journey on the Canadian Holiday Train has been a huge success so far. Every village, town and city we have the pleasure to perform in inspires us more and more. Some remarkable moments have been the excellent singers of Blackie, Alberta and indeed the beautiful singing from everyone who joins us in “Silent Night” and other carols. The touching event of four year old Shael’s gesture of good will in Coleman will remain one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen and remind us all about the true meaning of this season. The generosity that we witness within the communities across this gorgeous nation is a thing you really have to see to believe. Neighbors, friends and complete strangers have come out at every stop to prove that we are a country of genuine, caring people who love to sing, dance and support those less fortunate. As for me, a lowly drummer boy, I am just thrilled to be parrupapumpumming westward with this fabulous group of CP employees, musicians and close friends. Special thanks to all the staff who work tirelessly throughout the year to make this magical event happen. None of it would be possible without the skills and vision of these wonderful people. I look forward to each and every stop and if you watch, you’ll see a 1000 watt smile on my face when the stage doors unfold. Thanks everyone, your heart and generosity are what make the Holiday Train what it is and to those stops we have yet to make, we can’t wait to perform for you all. Happy holidays, Snowball.

Another Successful Day on the U.S Holiday Train.

The US Holiday Train has been traveling across the Midwest for several days now spreading cheer and doing our part for the local communities and food shelves.

As we head into our final week we couldn’t have asked for a better Holiday Train season. The crowds have been amazing and the train and shows have been right on schedule, thanks to our crew.

The lights, decorations and equipment we use on our train to make it shine bright every night are typically used for your lawn at home and, as you can appreciate, are not designed to be strapped on boxcars and moved at a speeds of up to 45 miles an hour.

There is a team of people assigned to the train to fix lights and straighten trees as we move from place to place. Only a short time is given to this crew to make these repairs and our very cohesive team always makes it happen in record time. The Holiday Train relies on the expert employees at the various CP terminals we make brief stops at – to lend a helping hand when possible. Most recently, the Waseca terminal mechanical team were our shining stars.

Their hard work pays off when we pull into each town and see groups of people smiling and cheering for the train. Yesterday we had three great crowds in a row in Winona, Wabasha and Lake City.

It was a gorgeous winter evening as Willy Porter, Sydney Grigg and Red Plaid Jacket rocked the stage, we couldn’t have asked for better weather.

Thank you to everyone who came out and to the crew for helping us make it all happen.

~Sarah Proud

Onto southern Alberta...

We alternate our northern Alberta (Calgary/Edmonton/Banff) and our southern Alberta (Calgary/Lethbridge/Nelson) routes from year to year in other to reach as many communities as possible. Saturday’s trip was a little different from two years ago in that our visit to Vulcan was in the afternoon and Lethbridge scored an evening show. Also different was our stop in Blackie; the crowd for this first-time stop exceeded the town’s population of maybe 400 people.

Vulcan is never a disappointment – they even set up their own stage and hold a concert before ours arrives. We can only hope our show shines brightly as a follow-up to the town’s own entertainment.

Lethbridge had an amazing turnout – mesmerized by the tens of thousands lights on the train. The weather even co-operated; the temperature was probably close to -20C last time but hovering just below zero this year.

Leaving Alberta this weekend, onto British Columbia. Warmer temperatures on the way? Brrrr.

Danelle W.

Jumping through states

The last few days on the Holiday Train have been a world of fun as we jump through Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota and back to Minnesota again. People have braved the cold weather to come out and support their community's food shelf and listen to Willy Porter, Sydney Grigg and Red Plaid Jacket rock the stage.

We had a great show in Tracy, Minnesota as groups of children poured out of four school buses ready for the show. The performers had no problem getting this crowd to dance as everyone in the audience jumped up and down to the music. You could hear the screams and cheers of the kids from a mile away and those passing by could have easily mistaken the Holiday Train for a Justin Bieber concert.

New Ulm, Minnesota brought out another great crowd with a lot of energy. The town of New Ulm was in full support of the Holiday Train. Local community restaurants rallied behind the event offering discounts and deals to those who donated to the local food shelf. It may have been a cold night but it felt like a hot summer day the way this crowd was dancing and smiling.

The town of Janesville, Minnesota was a picture perfect show. The city was lit up with lights and the crowd was spread across a park ready to hear some music. This show could have been pulled right out of a movie with kids on their parents' shoulders and groups of people huddled around a fire swaying to the music. The train was shown in all its glory blending in with the beautifully lit town.

Austin, Minnesota and Mason City, Iowa were other great stops we made these last couple days. Once again the crowds were big and the people were excited. The band came off stage smiling commenting on the great energy they felt from both crowds. Kids were showing off their best dance moves right in front of the stage and everyone was singing along to the great music.

As we continue to make our way through the Midwest bouncing between Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, South Dakota and North Dakota we hope to see more great crowds and more great donations to these communities.

Sarah

Fun, Food and Frosty in Manitoba

[skipping back a few days!]

It was c-c-c-cooooold in Manitoba on the Holiday Train! Which is quickly becoming a theme on the Canadian prairies...

Frosty the Snowman was a crowd pleaser with his carrot nose, top hat and dance moves at the CP Holiday Train stops in Portage La Prairie and Minnedosa. Frosty comes out when the temperature plunges, but it's looking warmer on our travels west, so Frosty is staying put.

Winter lasts a long time across Canada. Which means there are a lot of cold people in this country for many months of the year. And while we can't keep everyone warm (though we wish we could!) we are trying to keep everyone fed. Nothing makes these winter nights more bearable than a tummy full of food.

Food banks in North America and their incredible volunteers are working to stop the fight against hunger. So whether it's one can of soup or a van full of food, whatever you donate to the Holiday Train does make a difference. As always, thank you for your generosity, your smiles and your donations.
Eat well and dress warm Saskatchewan! We're on our way.

Jen H., Melissa M. and Frosty the Snowman