Notch Hill and Ashcroft Hospitality

The Canadian Holiday Train sends its thanks to two communities along the way that went above and beyond to host the Holiday Train team.

The Notch Hill show on Wednesday evening was picturesque, with large snowflakes falling throughout the show and crackling bonfires. There was so much snow, in fact, that the Holiday Train stage had to be shoveled off before being put away for the night. Following the performance, in what has become an annual tradition, the Holiday Train was hosted for a little shin-dig in the Notch Hill community center. Much thanks to the Adams, the Underhills and the many other families that cooked and baked treats. An early Christmas gift, all were presented with 2009 pictorial calendars that highlight the longstanding relationship between CP and Notch Hill.

Further West, and still battling unusually frigid weather, the town of Ashcroft provided a scrumptious breakfast for the Holiday Train team on Thursday morning. Businesses from all over Ashcroft provided food for the gathering and the Holiday Train team interacted with a number of longstanding citizens, drank fresh roasted coffee.

The coffee kept the performers warm well into the 2pm show that afternoon in Ashcroft where almost 300 braved the chilled air, standing around bonfires and wrapped in blankets with food stuff for donations in hand.

Breanne F.

Footnote: Polls say that the Canadian Holiday Train Team are still wearing their winter woolies

On the final day of the 2008 Canadian Holiday Train tour, the performers and CP folk are busy packing, cleaning and making preparations to get home but are also ready to rock the holiday spirit right through Aggasiz, Maple Ridge and Port Moody.. The wind in Aggasiz is strong and cool, so everyone will have to stay bundled up. . The hope is that our communities will also brave the cold, put on their winter best and give generously to help those in need.