The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing a lot of us to alter our holiday plans this year—and the Canadian Pacific (CP) Holiday Train is no different. For more than 20 years, the Holiday Train has been crisscrossing North America to raise money and collect food for food banks.
Every November and December, two CP trains usually make the journey from Montreal to more than 150 Canadian and U.S. communities. Over the past two decades, they’ve raised more than $19 million and gathered 4.8 million pounds of food donations. Each stop has also provided an opportunity for CP and OL’s
Rail Safety Ambassadors to raise awareness about
rail safety.
Unfortunately, CP’s Holiday Train won’t be making its usual journey this year. But the railway is still finding a way to help put food on the table for people in need.
Bringing music directly to your home this year
This year, CP is holding a "Holiday Train at Home" concert to raise money and help local food banks collect much-needed donations. Serena Ryder and The Trews will headline the event, which will be streamed on CP's Facebook page on Dec. 12.
"For more than two decades, the CP family has supported Canadians and Americans in need through the CP Holiday Train program," says CP President and CEO Keith Creel. "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."
Raising money to provide food for those in need
The Dec. 12
th concert is scheduled for 6 p.m. MT/8 p.m. ET. In addition to Serena Ryder, it will also feature performances by JoJo Mason, Logan Staats and Kelly Prescott. People will be able to view the concert by visiting
facebook.com/canadian.pacific at the show's start time or by watching an archived version of the show.
Viewers will be encouraged to donate to
Food Banks Canada or
Feeding America, the two national organizations that support community food banks—or they can give directly to their local food bank.
In the spirit of the Holiday Train, let’s work together to make this a happy and safe holiday season. Please give if you can.