The arrival of the CPR Holiday Train in East Kootenay communities each year has always been one of the heralds of the holiday season. The train lumbers across the country, bringing fun and great entertainment to crowds of eager spectators. It is one of Canada’s most famous ambassadors of good will and the only fundraiser of its kind for food banks in North America. This year, its 19th tour, the Canadian Holiday Train will wind up the Canada 150 celebrations and will feature the ‘Spirit of Tomorrow’ car, which was part of the Canada 150 Train this past summer.

The story of the CPR Holiday Train began in 1999 with a few lights on a freight train which stopped in a handful of communities. Today, the holiday train has become two trains which begin their tour in the Montreal area. Each crosses the continent – one to communities in Canada and the other in the northern US – approximately 150 of them. Each train is bedecked with more than a million sparkling lights and carries a live music concert starring internationally acclaimed music artists performing seasonal and popular songs.

At each stop along the way, cheering crowds of folks, young and young-at-heart, gather to watch as the CPR holiday train rolls to a stop. There’s a hush – and the sides of one of the boxcars open to reveal a mobile stage. The opening act stars the jolly old elf with the red suit and the Ho! Ho! Ho! And the crowd goes wild!

Special guests for 2017, Alan Doyle and the Beautiful Band will delight the excited fans. You won’t want to miss this show!

The concerts are always free but people are encouraged to bring donations of cash or non-perishable, heart-healthy food items for their local food banks. Each year, food banks across the country depend upon this annual event to stock their shelves for the holiday season. For many food banks, this is their major fundraiser for the year. What is raised in each community stays in that community.

Since the first train rolled to its first stop in 1999, CPR holiday trains have brought individuals, businesses and communities together in the spirit of giving. They have raised more than $13 million and collect over 4 million pounds of food for local food banks in Canada and the United States.

The excitement of the crowds, the lights, the music – it’s contagious! It’s pure magic! Enough to make old Scrooge himself turn over a new leaf!

Special contest!

Bring your camera with you! Enter your photos of the event in the Capture the Spirit photo contest and you could win a trip on the 2018 CP Holiday Train plus a $1,000 donation to your local food bank. For updates, watch the facebook page at: http://facebook.com/HolidayTrain

Don’t miss the CPR Holiday Train when it stops at the following East Kootenay communities:

• Sparwood – Dec. 11 (spprox. 3:35 to 4:15 pm)  – 367 Pine Ave behind Leisure Center
• Fernie – Dec. 11 (approx. 5:15 to 6 pm) – 700 – 1st Ave behind CP station
• Jaffray – Dec. 11 (approx.7:15  to 7:35 pm) – Mainline across from Community Hall
• Cranbrook – Dec. 11 (approx. 9:05  to 10:00 pm) – 25 Van Horne Street (CP station parking lot)
• Radium – Dec. 13 (approx. 6:00 to- 6:45 pm) – Foresters Road railway crossing
• Golden – Dec. 13 (approx. 8:45 to 10:00 pm) – Across from 7-11 store, 10th Avenue

For more information about the CPR holiday train, visit http://www.cpr.ca/holiday-train/canada