2013 Schedule for the 15th year of the Holiday Train …

                               Photo credit Leo de Groot, Calgary

Canadian Pacific’s signature community program, the Holiday Train announced its 2013 schedule today as the Holiday Train team revs up to roll out its biggest year ever.

Further details will be released as the Nov. 25 roll-out date draws near, but one thing is already apparent — this year’s schedule promises to raise the most food and funds for local food banks and food shelves in the train’s 15-year run.

Each Holiday Train consists of 14 brightly decorated railcars in various festive themes, including a modified boxcar that has been turned into a traveling stage for performers. They’re each decorated with hundreds of thousands of technology-leading LED Christmas lights. For the 15th year, CP’s elves have updated the lighting that adorns the sides of the two trains that are part of the Holiday Train program. Musicians traveling aboard the trains will play more than 150 free concerts from two boxcars that have been converted in rolling stages. Since the program first launched in 1999, it has raised $7.4 million and 3 million pounds of food for local communities where we operate.

The U.S. train will kick off the program  with its first stop in Kahnawake, Que. on Nov. 25, while the Canadian train will roll out, making its first stop in Beaconsfield, QC on Nov. 26.

The Canadian train will wrap up its journey on Dec. 16 in Port Coquitlam, BC, while the U.S. train will journey across the U.S. Northeast and Midwest before its final show Dec. 19 in Weyburn, SK. Check www.cpr.ca and CP’s Holiday Train Facebook page for event locations and times.

As this is a free event, CP asks that attendees bring a non-perishable food or cash donation in support of those in need in their communities, and all donations raised at each individual event stay with the food shelf in the community where they’re donated.

Unfortunately more Canadians and Americans in need are continuing to turn to their local food shelves. Items like infant formula, canned meats, and spaghetti sauce are in particular demand.