Holiday Train stopping at Pincher Station and Coleman on December 10

Holiday Train pulls into Pincher Station in 2011
C. Davis photo

Canadian Pacific's Holiday Train will be making stops in Fort Macleod, Pincher Station, and Coleman on Tuesday December 10.

• Fort Macleod - 9:30 am, Clear of the level railway crossing on 5th ave
• Pincher Creek - 11:15 am at Pincher Station
• Coleman - 1:15pm,  South of 17th ave between 69th and 70th St.

Juno Award winner
Melanie Doane

Entertainers on the Canadian Holiday Train include Melanie Doane, Crystal Shawanda, Jim Cuddy, Brothers Dube, Doc Walker, and Matt Dusk.  This is the annual event's 15th anniversary.  According to Canadian Pacific it is considered to be the longest running fundraising program in North America. The Holiday Train program travels across Canada and the United States raising money, food, and awareness for food banks and hunger issues. The Holiday Train reaches more than 150 communities each year for a combined distance of 10,000 kilometres (approximately 6,000 miles).  Since the Holiday Train program first launched in 1999, it has raised $7.4 million and 3 million pounds of food for local communities.

CP asks that attendees bring a non-perishable food or cash donation, and all donations stay with the food shelf in the community where they’re donated. Items like infant formula, canned meats, and spaghetti sauce are in particular demand for the millions of North American’s who turn to food banks each month.

Each Holiday Train consists of 14 brightly decorated railcars, including a modified boxcar that has been turned into a traveling stage for performers. For the 15th year, CP’s elves have updated the thousands of LED lights that adorn the sides of both trains with new holiday designs.

The 2013 CP Holiday Train program launches on November 25 in Kahnawake, Quebec, formally kicking off the three-week journey of two brightly decorated trains across Canada and the United States with its first U.S stop in Scranton, PA.

The Canadian train will wrap up its journey December 16 in Port Coquitlam, BC, while the U.S. train will journey across the U.S. Northeast and Midwest before its final show December 19 in Weyburn, SK.

Santa (centre) with Tracey Brown and Valdy, 2011 Holiday Train

Fun Facts 

• Since 1999, the Holiday Trains have covered approximately 100,000 miles, and entertained hundreds of thousands of supporters. 
• It takes 30 "CP elves" 100 days to completely transform and decorate the Holiday Trains before they start their journey across Canada and the U.S. 
• In 2012, more than 20,000 candy canes were handed out to the kids at Holiday Train events. In the 14 years of the Holiday Train program, it is estimated over a quarter of a million candy canes have been given out to children as treats. 

Supporters can also join the Holiday Train on Facebook and follow the two trains on Twitter @CPHolidaytrain #CPHolidayTrain