9 December 2008
Holiday Train
Canadian Pacific Railway's Holiday
Train.
Moose Jaw Saskatchewan - Canadian Country Music
Association award winner Johnny Reid had the crowd singing and dancing to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Raindeer during the
Canadian Pacific Railway's holiday train stop in Moose Jaw Monday night.
An enthusiastic crowd gathered on the west side of the Canadian Pacific Railway station Monday night to greet the annual holiday train.
CPR's holiday train has been travelling across Canada and the U.S. during the holiday season in each of the past 10 years, collecting
donations of food and money for local food banks.
This year's train was decked out in thousands of LED lights and was 14 cars long.
"Wow, what a great crowd," said Mike LoVecchio, spokesman for Canadian Pacific Railway.
He said Moose Jaw is a CPR city, so it is always a thrill to stop and see all the support Moose Javians have for the cause.
Although the train arrived approximately 15 minutes late, the crowd was still excited, according to the spokesman.
"That crowd was electric and if you check out the (food bank) vans, I bet you will see a lot of food in them.
That's what we are here to do," LoVecchio told the Times-Herald.
He said CPR made a commitment 10 years ago to help the communities it is part of "raise a lot of money and food during the
Christmas season." "We provide this terrifically lit holiday train and first rate talent. All we ask in return is that
people make donations to their local food banks," said LoVecchio.
Country Music Hall of Fame member Tracey Brown and Canadian Country Music Association award winner Johnny Reid both performed on this
year's holiday train. Singing some of their own hits, as well as some traditional Christmas carols with a country twist, both
performers had the standing audience singing and dancing along.
"Tracey and Johnny are so incredible on stage and I think that gave everybody that came a real thrill," said LoVecchio.
Having attended the holiday train celebration six years in row, resident Lori Bradford said the presentation gets better every year.
It is great that all the food and money raised stays right here in Moose Jaw, she said. This year's train really entertained
"both sides of the crowd," Bradford added. The kids enjoyed the lights, the train, and Santa, while adults could enjoy the
music, she said.
Yolanda Tacchi, who attended the show with her family, has been coming down to see the train for three years and her whole family
"loves it," she said. "It is a great way to kick off the holiday season."
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