Mobile Classroom to Accompany Holiday Train
Ottawa – Operation Lifesaver’s mobile classroom will accompany Canadian Pacific’s Holiday Train across Canada in December, delivering its safety message to almost half a million Canadians in more than 70 communities along the railway’s tracks in six provinces.
Dan Di Tota, National Director of OL, said winter, with its extreme weather and poor visibility, is a time of higher risk for motorists and pedestrians. “The time for people to Look, Listen and Live is never greater,” said Mr. Di Tota.” We want people to exercise caution year round, and at this time of year in particular, because the life they save may be their own.”
“Operation Lifesaver and its message of public rail safety will be a great addition to our Canadian Holiday Train stops,” said Jim Cunningham, Vice-president, Mechanical for Canadian Pacific with an overall responsibility for safety. “The engaged individuals who generously donate food and money at our events will now be able to benefit from one-on-one education about staying safe around rail operations. They, in turn, will share the message and essentially become rail safety ambassadors in their communities.”
Operation Lifesaver is a non-profit community safety initiative jointly funded by Canada’s railways and Transport Canada with active participation by other partners in the provinces, municipalities, media, industry, and community organizations.
The OL mobile classroom is a large, branded recreational vehicle and moving billboard for the rail safety program and includes a large screen for playing specialized movies. Adults and youth will benefit from numerous safety-related giveaways as well as the opportunity to ask questions to some of the most knowledgeable public rail safety experts. Joining Mr. Di Tota on the cross-Canada trip will be CP employee Jean-Pierre Brazeau, who regularly volunteers his time as an Operation Lifesaver presenter.
CP’s Holiday Train leaves Montreal, Que. on Dec. 1 and will reach Port Moody, B.C. Dec. 18. It is North America's largest rolling food bank fundraiser and this year features the musical talents of Wide Mouth Mason and Melanie Doane.
Since its launch in 1999, the Holiday Train program has raised over $3 million Cdn. and close to 1.6 million pounds of food for North American food banks. All donations collected in each community remain in that community for local distribution. The train’s complete schedule is available at www.cpr.ca.
Contact Information:
Dan Di Tota
Operation Lifesaver
613-564-8094
Roger Cameron
Railway Association of Canada
613-564-8097