8 December 2008
Holiday Train Ride a Special Gift for 30 Children
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The Holiday Train made its 10th anniversary stop in Kenora on
Saturday.
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Kenora Ontario - Coasting along the rails in the Holiday
Train, a group of 30 children who had never rode the rails before sang carols, drank hot chocolate, and went just a little bit wild.
"All the kids seemed to have a good time and were really excited to go on the train," said Jada Puls, the program
co-ordinator for Triple PLAY, a local organization assisting children who experience access barriers to recreational
activities. "We're getting 12 and 13-year-olds acting like they're 8 again. It's the lights and songs that get them
in the spirit and make them so excited. The laughing, singing, harassing the press, it was pure fun."
Puls unveiled a guitar part way through the tour to accompany a 14-carol songbook as the lights bounced through the
frigid darkness between Kenora and Whitemouth, Manitoba.
"It was amazing," said Carson Emerson-McCallum. "I was on a GO Train once and this goes way faster."
The children were thrilled with the decorations inside and out, emanating Christmas glitter to the atmosphere even before Santa Claus
made his appearance.
Young people had registered weeks before but even on the day the Holiday Train rolled into the East Yard in Kenora, some awoke to the
excitement that they would be included after all.
Brooklyn Kiera learned she was coming on Saturday morning. "It was my first time on a train without my parents," she said.
"I was kind of nervous but really excited. I think this is really cool. You get to see more of Kenora. We drove by my Nanna's
place and could see it from the train."
Crowd Braves Cold to See CP Holiday Train
The Holiday Train had to be extra bright to warm spirits on the coldest night of the year Saturday. Hundreds of people came out to
watch the lights and concert in the East Rail Yard, courtesy of Canadian Pacific.
The Holiday Train's 10th anniversary was celebrated with the carols and songs of Canadian country music hall of fame member Tracey
Brown and Canadian Country Music Association male artist of the year Johnny Reid. Even Santa Claus made an appearance, rapping for the
audience.
"They always say they love coming to Kenora because of the set up and how much effort Buck (Matiowski) puts into having it
organized," said Salvation Army Capt. Debbie Gosse. "I had several people who have lived in Kenora all their lives come up
to me and tell me it was their first time they had been to the Holiday Train."
A thousand pounds of food and a few hundred dollars were left behind once the train made its way westward, supporting the local
Salvation Army. The CP Rail workers also made a $2,500 donation on stage to the Sally Ann's food bank.
"Overall, we're doing better than last year in donations," Gosse said. "We're about on par for cash but toys and food
are definitely up from last year. We're very impressed with the community in the economic times we're in and how they've come forward.
People have been so kind after the theft we had here."
Gosse said that items are still needed for teenagers, recommending gift certificates to empower their consuming
choices.
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