Calgary Alberta - The Canadian Pacific (CP) Holiday Train will soon set out once again to entertain hundreds of thousands of people, celebrating 20 years of collecting food and raising funds for food banks across North America.
 
The CP Holiday Train program launched in 1999 and has since raised more than $14.5 million and gathered 4.3 million pounds of food for communities along CP's routes in Canada and the United States.
 
Beginning in Montreal on 25 and 27 Nov 2018 respectively, two trains will make the festive journey, travelling through both the U.S. and Canada to bring holiday cheer to 164 communities along CP's network.
 
Each event is free, with CP encouraging attendees to open their cupboards and wallets to help address hunger needs in their communities.
 
Local food banks will be accepting donations at each stop to ensure those less fortunate have enough healthy food this holiday season.
 
"On behalf of the 13,000 strong family here at CP, it is my great pleasure to kick-off the 20th tour of the CP Holiday Train," said Keith Creel, CP's President and Chief Executive Officer.
 
"It is a privilege for CP to be able to run a program like this and connect with so many communities across our network. I want to personally thank each individual who has made a donation over the past 20 years, your collective efforts have made the Holiday Train a huge success for two decades."
 
CP is also encouraging fans of the train to donate heart-healthy food, as everyone should have access to healthy, nutritious food, regardless of circumstances.
 
This supports the mission of CP Has Heart, a program dedicated to improving the heart health of men, women, and children in North America.
 
To date, this program has raised over $15 million for cardiac care and research.
 
"We are delighted to see the CP Holiday Train travelling across the country again supporting food banks for the twentieth year in a row," said Chris Hatch, Food Banks Canada's Chief Executive Officer.
 
"The role that CP plays goes beyond collecting food and raising funds, as they also help Food Banks Canada transport food across the country through our National Food Sharing System. For that we are truly grateful."
 
The Itinerary
 
The U.S. bound train will depart from Montreal on 25 Nov 2018 and head south.
 
Sam Roberts Band and JoJo Mason entertain crowds at stops in Quebec, New York, and Ontario.
 
The Trews will then hop on board with Willy Porter in Chicago to complete the trip through Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Dakota before arriving at their final destination in Weyburn, Saskatchewan, on 16 Dec 2018.
 
The Canadian Train will depart Montreal two days later on 27 Nov 2018.
 
Kelly Prescott will join three time Juno award-winner Terri Clark and Sierra Noble to spread holiday cheer through Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan to Calgary and Edmonton.
 
Sam Roberts Band will then carry on through Alberta and British Columbia, joined by Kelly Prescott and Tracey Brown, to the final show of the 2018 CP Holiday Train tour in Port Coquitlam on 18 Dec 2018.
 
First-time CP Holiday Train stops this year include, Carberry, Gleichen, Bensenville Illinois, Ottumwa Iowa, and Chillicothe and Kansas City Missouri.
 
A full schedule is available at www.cpr.ca/holiday-train/canada.
 
The Music
 
To coincide with the 20th anniversary of the Holiday Train, CP will release 20 festive songs by artists that have toured on the train over the past 20 years.
 
For 20 days beginning 25 Nov 2018 fans can visit the CP Holiday Train playlist on Spotify for a free song to stream.
 
Users with premium Spotify accounts can download songs onto their smartphone.
 
Make sure to tune in daily for an advent calendar of holiday hits by past artists such as Alan Doyle, Wide Mouth Mason, Terri Clark, Jim Cuddy, Odds, and more.
 
Photo Contest
 
People visiting the Holiday Train are encouraged to take photos and enter CP's Capture the Spirit photo contest.
 
Participants could win a trip aboard the 2019 CP Holiday Train and a $1,000 donation to their local food bank.
 
Further details about the contest will be available closer to the start of the program.
 
Follow the CP Holiday Train on Social Media
 
To help make this year the best yet for local food banks and food shelves, the Holiday Train asks fans to follow the train on social media, invite their friends and family, and spread the message about the importance of heart-healthy donations.
 
Supporters can follow the CP Holiday Train on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
 
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