3 December 2004 2004 Holiday Train Launches This Sunday Media are invited to the launch of the Canadian Holiday Train from Ste. Therese, Quebec at: 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, 5 Dec 2004 at 113 Turgeon Street - south side of commuter rail station parking lot.   After more than seven months of planning, the 2004 CPR Holiday Train is ready to raise awareness, money and food in support of hunger relief in Canada. On Sunday, 5 Dec 2004, the special 14-car freight train - decorated with about 10,000 Christmas lights - will begin its spirited Canadian journey from Ste. Therese, Quebec.   The country's largest rolling fundraiser will then visit more than 50 Canadian communities, concluding its 6,000-mile trek in Port Moody, B.C. on Sunday, 19 Dec 2004. In addition to scheduled events, the Holiday Train also will make a number of daytime stops at other locations.   "At CPR, we recognize the issues that matter to the communities in which we live and do business," said CPR President and CEO Rob Ritchie. "The issue of those forced to turn to food banks is a reality that impacts all of us in some way. We feel it is important to show our support for local food banks, especially at this critical time of year."   This is the sixth year of CPR's Holiday Train. Since its launch in 1999, the Holiday Train program has raised close to 213 tons of food and over $1.5 million for North American food banks. Event goers are encouraged to bring cash donations or non-perishable food items. All donations in a community remain in that community for distribution. CPR also will make cash donations to local food banks in addition to the food and money collected along the way.   The Canadian Association of Food Banks (CAFB) has reported parents, children and the working poor are among the over 800,000 people who turn to food banks for help each month. Food bank use in Canada in any one month now exceeds the population of Winnipeg, according to HungerCount 2004, CAFB's national survey of food bank use. Since the 1989 House of Commons resolution to end child poverty by 2000, food bank use has increased by 123 percent.   International recording artists, the Moffatts, are back together as a band and will be performing their first live shows on Canadian Pacific Railway's Holiday Train. Joining the Moffatts and CPR volunteers on board the Canadian Holiday Train are Canadian Country Music Association Hall of Fame member Tracey Brown and Canadian country music award winners, the Ennis Sisters.   In addition to the Canadian Holiday Train, which will bring holiday cheer in six provinces, a second specially decorated Holiday Train will be traveling across the U.S. Midwest stopping at more than 25 communities. John Cowan, the former lead vocalist and bass player for New Grass Revival and a former member of the Doobie Brothers, and Canadian singer/songwriter Patricia Conroy will share the CPR boxcar stage for the 2004 U.S. Holiday Train. Prior to entering the U.S., the performers on board this train will also entertain crowds at Cambridge and London, Ontario and will then do shows in North Portal, Estevan and Weyburn, Saskatchewan, once the train wraps up its U.S. Midwest journey.   Revised Canadian Holiday Train schedule.