Skip to content

CP Holiday Train moves virtual for 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has derailed the 22nd annual Canadian Pacific (CP) Holiday Train, but organizers will hold a virtual benefit concert and fundraiser in lieu.

The COVID-19 pandemic has derailed the 22nd annual Canadian Pacific (CP) Holiday Train, but organizers will hold a virtual benefit concert and fundraiser in lieu.

"For more than two decades, the CP family has supported Canadians and Americans in need through the CP Holiday Train program," said CP President and CEO Keith Creel in a press release. "In a year full of challenge and loss, we will host this concert as a call to action for the train's supporters to donate generously if they can this Christmas season. The spirit of the holiday train will come alive even though the train itself will not operate due to the COVID-19 pandemic."

The CP Holiday Train is an annual tradition held in November and December in which a CP locomotive brightly adorned with Christmas lights travels from Quebec to British Columbia. The train stops at dozens of locations along the cross-country route for live musical performances and cheque presentations to representatives of local food banks.

Typically, the CP Holiday train rolls through Airdrie in early December, stopping near Nose Creek Valley Museum. In a normal year, upwards of 4,000 people come to the park to check out the festive lights display and attend the concert. 

This year, the concert will be held virtually and will feature six-time JUNO Award winner Serena Ryder and the Trews as headliners, as well as performances from folk singer Logan Staats and country musicians Kelly Prescott and Jojo Mason. The performances will be streamed Dec. 12 on CP’s Facebook page, starting at 6 p.m. MST.

Alongside the entertainment aspect of the CP Holiday Train, the tradition also serves an important charitable role. According to CP, the holiday train has raised nearly $18 million and collected close to five million pounds of food donations since the initiative began in 1999.

Christine Taylor, Event, Marketing and Communications manager for the Airdrie Food Bank, said the food bank was disappointed but not surprised the CP Holiday Train is unable to roll through town this December.

"This is probably one of our favourite events – it brings the whole community together," she said. "It's not even so much about the donations but the awareness of the food bank. CP Rail has always been so great to us and the train has always stopped through for so many years, so this is definitely going to be a change this season."

CP Spokesperson Salem Woodrow said CP will keep the charitable aspect going this year with a donation of $1.24 million to food banks across Canada and the United States. She added the funds will be disbursed to food banks in similar amounts they received in previous years.

“COVID-19 has really created many challenges for the communities across our network, and it’s really only increased the need at local food banks and food shelves,” Woodrow said. “This year’s modified program will continue to draw the attention on food security issues while ensuring the donations go to all food banks that would ordinarily receive them with the CP Holiday Train."

While Woodrow said people are disappointed the train is not able to undertake its annual tour this year, she added the spirit of the initiative will carry on through the virtual concert. 

“We’ll have the holiday train program rolling again and spreading Christmas cheer as soon as it’s safe to do so," she said.

Scott Strasser, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @scottstrasser19

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks