Volunteers make 2005 Holiday Train a reality for Canadian food bankstitle
CALGARY, Nov. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Thousands of volunteers from
CPR, partnering food banks and residents of more than 100 communities are
coming together to ensure the 2005 CPR Holiday Train takes to the rails to
raise money, food, and awareness for food bank programs in Canada and the
United States.
More than 300 CPR employees ensure the Holiday Train Program takes place.
This includes employees who make up train crews, mechanical staff, corridor
management, CPR police and other staff who donate their time for this unique
rolling fundraiser for hunger relief.
Brian Stevenson, a Manager of Mechanical Services for CPR with 32 years
experience, has been involved in preparing the Holiday Train since its 1999
launch, putting in hundreds of extra hours with his team of mechanical
specialists who also volunteer to ensure the train is mechanically ready. "The
Holiday Train is a special project for us, because it supports an important
issue that impacts all of us in some way. As well, we have seen the joy the
Holiday Train brings to those who come out to see the train all lit up, enjoy
the show and support their local food bank," said Stevenson.
Thousands of volunteers are needed each year by food banks across Canada
and are an important resource. The Canadian Association of Food Banks reported
that in one month alone, volunteers donated hundreds of thousands of hours to
make sure less-fortunate Canadians did not go to bed hungry. Almost half
(44.8%) of food banks have no paid staff, relying on work of volunteers to
ensure that those in need receive food.
In addition to food bank volunteers, many others across Canada step
forward to help organize Holiday Train events in their local area. Examples
include hundreds of model railroaders from Maple Ridge, Abbotsford, Chilliwack
and Salmon Arm who have been helping out every year. As well, in Winnipeg,
members of the Winnipeg Railway Museum will be assisting CPR Police this year
with parking and to ensure the event site is safe for everybody attending.
Since its launch in 1999, the Holiday Train program has collected close
to 378 tons of food and taken in more than $1.9 million CDN for North American
food banks. In 2004, 165 tons of food were collected and $375,000 CDN was
donated by concerned Canadians and Americans. CPR also makes cash donations to
local food banks in addition to the food and money collected along the way.
All donations in a community remain in that community for distribution
From December 2nd to the 17th, the Canadian Holiday Train will be
visiting more than 60 Canadian communities in six provinces. About 40 cities
and towns in six U.S. states also will experience the 2005 Holiday Train.
About the Canadian Association of Food Banks
Founded in 1985, the Canadian Association of Food Banks (CAFB) is the
national umbrella organization representing voluntary food charities,
including about 250 member food banks. CAFB is the voice of food banks in
Canada. Members and their agencies serve approximately 90 per cent of people
who use emergency food programs nation-wide. CAFB operates the National Food
Sharing System, coordinating the shipment of food donations through voluntary
transport to food banks across the country. In addition to food received from
the CAFB, food bank members distribute an estimated 150 million pounds of food
per year to the less fortunate in their communities. In March 2004, over
800,000 different people accessed food banks, including more than 300,000
children. While CAFB provides food daily for people in need, its ultimate goal
is a hunger-free Canada.
About Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway is a transcontinental carrier operating in
Canada and the U.S. Its 14,000-mile rail network serves the principal centres
of Canada, from Montreal to Vancouver, and the U.S. Northeast and Midwest
regions. CPR feeds directly into Americas heartland from the East and West
coasts. Alliances with other carriers extend its market reach throughout the
U.S. and into Mexico. CPRs website is: http://www.cpr.ca
For the latest Holiday Train news and information, including pictures and
route map, check out the 2005 Holiday Train website at:
http://www.cpr.ca/go/holidaytrain
Attached: Revised 2005 Holiday Train schedule of Canadian stops.
2005 CPR Holiday Train Schedule-Canada
(x) Schedule is subject to change
All times are local
Friday, Dec. 2
Quebec
Beaconsfield - 7:30 p.m., Beaconsfield Commuter Station
(x)Rouses Point Junction - 11:30 p.m. (Additional U.S. Train stop),
Rouses Point Station
Ontario
Smiths Falls - 10:30 p.m., Smiths Falls Train Station, 64 Victoria St.
Saturday, Dec. 3
Ontario
Carleton Place - 6 p.m., 149 Moore Street (near the old wool mill)
Almonte - 7:30 p.m., Little Bridge St.
(x)Belleville - 5 p.m., (Additional U.S. Train stop), South Church St.
crossing, south of Dundas St. East
(x)Trenton - 6:30 p.m., (Additional U.S. Train stop), RCAF Road crossing,
north of 8 Wing Base
(x)Bowmanville - 9 p.m., (Additional U.S. Train stop), parking lot,
immediately west of Scugog St.
Sunday, Dec. 4
Ontario
Pembroke - 11:15 a.m.., Albert St. Crossing
Mattawa - 4:45 p.m., old CPR Station
Bonfield - 6:30 p.m., Railway St.
North Bay - 8:30 p.m., 100 Ferguson St. at old CPR Station
(x)Toronto - 5 p.m., (Additional U.S. Train stop), Yonge St. Bridge
(x)Hamilton - 8 p.m., (Additional U.S. Train stop), Kinnear Yard,
opposite Gage Park
Monday, Dec. 5
Ontario
Sudbury - 6 p.m., VIA Train Station, Elgin St.
Cartier - 8 p.m., CPR Train Station, 3 Spence St.
(x)Cambridge - 6:30 p.m., (Additional U.S. Train stop), former Galt CPR
Station, 10 Malcolm Street
(x)London - 9:30 p.m., (Additional U.S. Train stop), CPR Yard on
Central Ave. at Elizabeth St.
Tuesday, Dec. 6
Ontario
Chapleau - 5 p.m., CPR Train Station, CPR Train Station, 50 Dufferin St.
White River - 9:30 p.m., CPR Train Station, 102 Winnipeg St.
(x)Windsor - 7 p.m., (Additional U.S. Train stop), CPR Yard at Erie St.
West & Janette St.
Wednesday, Dec.7
Ontario
Mobert - 9:15 a.m., across from Band Office
Heron Bay - 11:30 a.m., Old CPR Train Station, beside Esso Building
Marathon - 1 p.m., beside Curling Club parking lot, Stevens Ave.
Schreiber - 3:45 p.m., CPR Train Station at Cenotaph, beside Harvest Food
Cupboard building
Nipigon - 6:30 p.m., CPR Yard, 60 Front St., across from Nipigon Inn
Thunder Bay - 9:45 p.m., CPR Train Station, 440 Syndicate Avenue
Thursday, Dec. 8
Ontario
Dryden - 12 noon, CPR Yard Entrance, Queen St. and Earl Ave.
Kenora - 4:45 p.m., CPR South Yard, across from Wholesale Store -
8th Ave. entrance
Whitemouth - 7:45 p.m., Railway Ave. across from Whitemouth Hotel
Manitoba
Winnipeg - 9:45 p.m., Molsen St., between Panet Road and Munroe Ave.
Friday, Dec. 9
Manitoba
Portage La Prairie - 7:30 a.m., 301-3rd St. NE- opposite Centennial Arena
Minnedosa - 11:45 a.m., west of CPR Station, south side of yard,
30, 2nd Ave. NW
Saskatchewan
Bredenbury - 5:45 p.m. CPR Station
Wynyard - 10:30 p.m., CPR Station
Saturday, Dec. 10
Saskatchewan
Saskatoon - 11:30 a.m., CPR Sutherland Yard, 801 Gray Ave
Regina - 6 p.m. Taylor Field, stadium parking Lot
Moose Jaw - 8:15 p.m., just west of CPR Train Station,
3 Manitoba St. West
Sunday, Dec. 11
Saskatchewan
Swift Current - 12 noon, just east of CPR Train Station, 3rd St. &
North Railway Ave.
Alberta
Medicine Hat - 5 p.m., just east of CPR Train Station, Queen &
North Railway St.
Tilley - 7:15 p.m., southeast side of crossing at Highway 876 in Tilley
Brooks - 8:30 p.m., 1st Ave. behind Civic Building
Monday, Dec. 12
Alberta
Calgary - 6 p.m., Anderson LRT Station - southeast parking lot.
Vulcan - 9:15 p.m., 1st Ave. and 2nd St. South
Tuesday, Dec. 13
Alberta
Lethbridge - 9:30 a.m., 2nd Ave. North and 12 St. North, behind
Save On Foods.
British Columbia
Sparwood - 3:45 p.m., 367 Pine St., behind Leisure Centre
Fernie - 5:30 p.m., behind CPR Station, 700-1st Ave.
Cranbrook - 9 p.m., 1400 block, Theatre Road
Wednesday, Dec. 14
British Columbia
Radium - 12 noon, Foresters Road crossing
Golden - 5:30 p.m., across from 7-11 Store, 10th Ave.
Thursday, Dec. 15
British Columbia
Revelstoke - 4:15 p.m., Victoria Road, adjacent to the CPR Yard
parking lot.
Sicamous - 6:45 p.m., northwest corner of Highway 1 at Silver Sands Road
intersection.
Salmon Arm - 8:30 p.m., CPR Train Station, 51 Lake Shore Drive
Friday, Dec. 16
British Columbia
Notch Hill - 5:30 p.m., west of Tappen-Notch Hill Road crossing
Chase - 7 p.m., north side of Shuswap Ave., across from Chase RCMP
Detachment
Kamloops - 8:45 p.m., east side of Thompson Park Mall, 6th Ave.
Saturday, Dec. 17
Saskatchewan (Additional U.S. Holiday Train stops)
North Portal - 12 noon, International Border Crossing
Estevan - 5:15 p.m., east of CPR Station at vacant lot off 7th St.
Weyburn - 7:45 p.m., 512 Railway St.
Saturday, Dec. 17
British Columbia
North Bend - 12 noon, east of CPR Terminal
Agassiz - 4:15 p.m., west of Highway 9, across from Agra Centre,
Pioneer Ave.
Maple Ridge (Haney) - 6:45 p.m., across from Billy Minor Pub
Port Moody - 8:30 p.m., on Queen St. at Clark Ave.
For the latest Holiday Train news and information, including pictures
and route map, check out the 2005 Holiday Train website at:
http://www.cpr.ca/go/holidaytrain
