Hamilton Ontario - Hamilton and Canadian Pacific Railway police plan to meet again in the new year over an incident during the Holiday Train's recent visit to Hamilton in which an auxiliary police officer was clipped by a rail car as the train rolled in for festivities.
 
Hamilton police Superintendent Paul Morrison said his service and CP police met on Wednesday and decided to hold a meeting sometime in the new year with all involved in the train's visit.
 
Canadian Pacific spokesperson Ed Greenberg said Wednesday's meeting was informal and called the upcoming meeting "a formal debrief".
 
Morrison said the review will not be immediate because the Holiday Train is not in the area again this year.
 
"There is no need to expedite the review."
 
Morrison said although there are many questions that need answers, "the saving grace is that the officer was not significantly hurt and it could have been a lot worse".
 
The auxiliary officer is Karen Wallace.
 
She was watching a group of children who kept trying to get closer to the Holiday Train as it rolled in off Lawrence Road near Gage Park last Saturday.
 
She told them a few times to stay back but, after the engine went by, she was clipped by a rail car and knocked off balance, causing her to fall.
 
She was uninjured and cleared by medical personnel at the event.
 
Morrison said he believes CP has implemented some changes for the Holiday Train's next two signature appearances similar to the one in Hamilton where headliner concerts are included.
 
Hamilton's concert featured performances by Great Big Sea, Natalie MacMaster, and Tom Cochrane.
 
The next two signature events are in Calgary and in Minnesota.
 
Greenberg said CP has put additional safety measures in place at all remaining Holiday Train event sites for this year but did not elaborate.
 
He also said the next two signature events do not have the same setup as Hamilton's.
 
Greenberg said CP is grateful Wallace was not injured and appreciates the support of the Hamilton police, the city, and volunteers.
 
Carmela Fragomeni.