The countdown is on to the day when a familiar glowing sight announces the oncoming arrival of the holidays. The CP Holiday Train has become a familiar sight, when it chugs into the Energy City, warming up everyone on a winter day. The CP Holiday Train will be stopping in Estevan on Dec. 15 this year.
The train’s 3 p.m. arrival will feature the talents of Kelly Prescott and Colin James. Both performers will be on a special stage that opens from one of the many glowing, decorated cars on the train. James, a musician who started in the Prairies and moved onto the world stage over the last 25 years, said he is looking forward to the new experience of visiting the various towns and cities on the Holiday Train’s route to perform.
“Since I was a child, I’ve always been romantic about the railway,” said James. “Spending a couple of weeks on a train and pulling into some of these idyllic towns will not only be a new experience for me, but a fantastic way to ring in the Christmas season.”
This will not be Prescott’s first year performing on the Holiday Train. Prescott said that to her, the Holiday Train “exemplifies the spirit of giving and brings so much joy and hope to communities across North America.
She added, “Once again, I look forward to another year aboard the Holiday Train and helping in the fight against hunger.”
Salem Woodrow, a media relations consultant with Canadian Pacific said the residents of Estevan are in for the same spectacular sight they’ve come to love in previous years.
“The train is about 1,000 feet in length, 13 rail cars long, and it’s decorated with hundreds of thousands of LED lights, all in holiday designs,” said Woodrow. “Folks will see it coming, and will hear it coming for sure. We’re putting on a concert for the community and ask that everyone bring a non-perishable food item or cash donation for the food bank.”
The event’s main purpose, along with spreading holiday cheer, is to invoke the holiday spirit of giving and generosity in the community. Major Wilf Harbin with the Estevan Salvation Army said the Holiday Train is an important yearly event for the organization’s food bank. The Salvation Army brings a truck to accept donations at the event. Harbin noted that Estevanites are very generous every year—something that can be seen in the Salvation Army driving away from the event with a full truckload of donations.
“It’s great because it takes place at a time of the year when the amount of demand increases. We’re looking at 400 families possibly looking to access our program this year,” said Ronza Reynard, family services co-ordinator with the Estevan Salvation Army. “The food that comes in from the train goes right into the food bank, and will be used through the coming year.”
Reynard said there has been an approximate increase in demand for the food bank’s services of 37 to 39 per cent, over the course of the year.
She added, “We’re just very excited to get behind the event again. The community does as well, as they support us all year. It’s great they step up all the more at this time of year.”
