The Holiday Train – a magical train of lights – will roll into Alexandria on Friday, December 14 between 1 and 2 p.m. (Arrival time is estimated.)
As was the case last year, it will stop at the 8th Avenue East railroad crossing by Hubbard Feed Mill at 8th and Nokomis Street.
For the ninth straight year, two brightly decorated Holiday Trains will be collecting food and money, as well as raising awareness in the fight against hunger.
All the food and money collected at the Alexandria stop will benefit the Outreach Food Shelf.
The trains – the largest rolling fundraiser of its kind – will stop in more than 100 communities in Canada and the United States. (See schedule for stops in Minnesota.)
Each Holiday Train is about 1,000 feet in length with 14 decorated rail cars, including a modified boxcar that has been turned into a traveling stage for performers.
The trip in the U.S. will begin in Scranton, Pennsylvania on December 1 and end in Carpio, North Dakota on December 16.
From there, the trains will go into Canada, visiting more than 70 towns, villages and cities.
Each year, in addition to the official stops, the Holiday Train holds mini-performances in many of the communities along its route.
Bringing holiday cheer as well as the important message of supporting food pantries in the United States is Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame member Tracey Brown. Brown will be joined by Juno award-winner Colin Linden and the critically acclaimed sister-duo, Ennis. (Check out the sidebar story for more information about the performers.)
History of the train
The Canadian Pacific Railroad (CPR) Holiday Train Program began in 1999 with a handful of communities and a few lights on a freight train.
Today, with its hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights and a live show featuring well-known performers, it’s one of CPR’s main ambassadors in working with communities in Canada and the United States, and is the only fundraiser of its kind for food banks in North America.
Planning for the Holiday Train begins at least seven months prior to the fundraising kick off.
Hundreds of CPR employees volunteer for the special fundraising journey every year – many taking their vacations to work on each train.
Since its launch in 1999, the Holiday Train program has raised more than $2.4 million and close to 1.3 million pounds of food for North American food banks.
In 2006, more than $600,000 and 300,000 pounds of food were raised by concerned Canadians and Americans. All donations collected in a community remain in that community for local distribution.
In the first seven years of working with food banks, the Holiday Train visited more than 500 different communities and more than 200,000 candy canes and about 100,000 souvenir train whistles have been handed out by Holiday Train volunteers.
About the CPR
CPR is a transcontinental carrier operating in Canada and the U.S.
Its 13,500-mile rail network serves the principal centers of Canada – from Montreal to Vancouver – and the U.S. in the northeast and Midwest regions. CPR feeds directly into America’s heartland from the east and west coasts.
Alliances with other carriers extend its market reach throughout the U.S. and into Mexico.
CPR marked its 125th anniversary last year.
For more information, log onto www.cpr.ca.
ABOUT THE ENTERTAINERS
Tracey Brown
As the youngest member of Canada’s most decorated country band, The Family Brown, Tracey Brown’s successful musical career has spanned over three decades. Brown’s 1998 solo release Woman’s Work, garnered her a Juno nomination for Country Female Vocalist and a nomination for Independent Female Vocalist. Her soon to be released CD, Alone, includes a duet with Tom Wilson from Blackie and the Rodeo Kings/Junkhouse fame. Brown continues to perform and co-produce many events and projects with her Grammy nominee and multi award-winning producer and instrumentalist husband, Randall Prescott. Together they own and operate an audio/video production facility in the Ottawa Valley. Brown is integral to CP’s Holiday Train success. 2007 marks her seventh consecutive year as a headline performer. For more information, visit her Web site at www.riproar.ca/Tracey.htm
Colin Linden
Colin Linden is one of Canada’s top Juno award-winning musicians, vocalists, songwriters and record producers. Throughout his colorful career, he’s teamed up with the likes of Bruce Cockburn, Lucinda Williams, T-Bone Burnett, Colin James, Chris Thomas King and The Band. His cameo as a minstrel clergyman in the Coen Brothers’ film Intolerable Cruelty was excellent, when he sang a passionate version of the Simon and Garfunkel classic “April Come She Will.” Although Linden’s first passion is blues guitar, he frequently collaborates with country and folk performers. He is also a member of the group Blackie and the Rodeo Kings. In 2007, they released their fifth album entitled Let’s Frolic Again. From Linden’s first album, Sam Chatmon & His Barbeque Boys, to his latest solo release, Easin’ Back to Tennessee, Linden’s heartfelt and soul-rooted lyrics and scorching slide guitar playing, continue to inspire audiences across the country. For more information, visit his Web site at www.colinlinden.com
Ennis
Ennis’s Canadian-Irish inspired music is often described as passionate, authentic and pure. Ennis members – and sisters – Maureen and Karen, are both gifted singers and musicians. Maureen is a guitarist and award-winning songwriter; Karen plays the tin whistle and flute. As previous members of the group Ennis Sisters, Maureen and Karen have shared the stage with the Chieftains, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Rufus Wainright, Ron Sexsmith and Bruce Cockburn. Since their critically acclaimed beginnings, Maureen and Karen continue to dazzle audiences with their stunning musical talent and soulful harmony. The Ennis Sisters’ latest CD, Be Here for a While, was released in 2007. Maureen and Karen plan to release a new album in 2008. Beautiful, versatile, intelligent and deeply emotional in concert, Maureen and Karen Ennis are two names you won’t soon forget. For more information, visit their new Web site at www.ennismusic.com. or visit their myspace site at www.myspace.com/ennissisters.
The Canadian Pacific Railway’s Holiday Train will make several stops in Minnesota. Here is the schedule, along with what organization will benefit from the food and money donations from the event:
Monday, December 10
? Winona: 5 to 6 p.m. – Amtrak depot, 65 E. Mark Street. Benefits Winona Volunteer Services.
? Wabasha: 7 to 8 p.m. – Gambia Avenue railroad crossing near Bruegger Park. Benefits Wabasha-Kellogg Food Shelf.
? Lake City: 8:45 to 9:45 p.m. – Hearth Technologies, 800 W. Jefferson Street. Benefits Lake City Food Shelf.
Tuesday, December 11
? Hastings: 4 to 5 p.m. – CPR Depot, 500 E. Second Street. Benefits Hastings Family Service.
? Cottage Grove: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. – West Point Douglas Road, South of Seiben Bridge in front of the Youth Service Bureau. Benefits Friends in Need Food Shelf.
? St. Paul: 7 to 8 p.m. – Upper level of Central Parking System ramp at Broadway and Kellogg under the Lafayette freeway bridge and east of old post office. Benefits Second Harvest Heartland.
? Minneapolis: 9 to 10 p.m. – Canadian Pacific Railway’s Shoreham Yard, 2800 Central Avenue NE. Benefits Eastside Neighborhood Services.
Thursday, December 13
? Loretto: 4:15 to 5:15 p.m. – Hennepin County Road 19 railroad crossing/Chippewa Trail. Benefits Hanover Area Food Shelf.
? Buffalo: 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. – 612 NE 3rd Avenue., behind McDonald’s on Highway 55. Benefits Buffalo Food Shelf.
? Annandale: 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. – West side of downtown park over Oak Avenue railroad crossing. Benefits Annandale Community Food Shelf.
? Eden Valley: 9 to 10 p.m. – Main Street railroad crossing (State Highway 22). Benefits Food Shelf.
Friday, December 14
? Alexandria: 1 to 2 p.m. –East railroad crossing by Hubbard Feed Mill at 8th Avenue and Nokomis Street. Benefits Douglas County Outreach Food Shelf.
? Detroit Lakes: 4:15 to 5:15 p.m. – Holmes Street railroad crossing near the Detroit Lakes Community and Cultural Center, 826 Summit. Benefits Becker County Food Pantry.
? Thief River Falls: 8 to 9 p.m. – Depot/City Hall, 2017 Highway 59 SE. Benefits Thief River Falls Area Food Shelf.
Saturday, December 15
? Elbow Lake: 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. – Main Street railroad crossing. Benefits Grant County Emergency Food Shelf.
