It is ‘all aboard’ on the 2007 CP Holiday Train for its Journey Across Canada in Support of Food Banks

November 30, 2007
Calgary, Alberta

After more than seven months of planning, the 2007 CP Holiday Train is again ready to raise awareness, money and food for Canadian food banks. Tomorrow, the magical ‘train of lights’ will begin its spirited cross-country journey from Beaconsfield, Quebec, eventually completing its trek in Port Moody, British Columbia on December 18th.

People in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, in more than 70 communities, will again experience the Holiday Train’s important mission in the fight against hunger. At each stop alongside the Canadian Holiday Train will be Operation Lifesaver’s mobile classroom sharing the message of public rail safety.At the same time as the Canadian Holiday Train, a second identically-decorated Holiday Train will be rolling across 40 communities in the United States’ Northeast and Midwest with the same goal for food hamper programs in the U.S.

Bringing holiday cheer as well as the important message supporting food banks, is one of the country’s most versatile musical exports, Wide Mouth Mason. The Saskatchewan trio will be joined by Canadian pop sensation Melanie Doane. Joining the Train 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 family duo: Ennis. Visit the Holiday Train page for their bios and photos

The online Holiday Train diary on CP’s website that will be updated daily and include unique, interesting and heart warming stories and photos from the train. New this year, the entertainers will contribute to this popular blog and share some candid moments about their on train experiences and what projects they are currently working on.

This is the ninth year CP’s Holiday Train will be taking to the rails for local food banks with its message of hope and community support. Since 1999, CP’s Holiday Train program has generated almost 1.6 million pounds of food donations and raised $3 million for local charities. In Canada, CP is proud to support organizations aligned with the Canadian Association of Food Banks, www.cafb-acba.ca , and has recently befriended Meal Exchange, http://www.mealexchange.com/, who’s mandate to provide young Canadians meaningful opportunities to help reduce local hunger

Some facts and states about the CP Holiday Train Program.

· Each Holiday Train is about 1,000 feet in length with 14 decorated rail cars, including a modified box car that has been turned into a traveling stage for performers. The two trains are assembled and decorated by CP employees in Montreal, Chicago and Calgary.

· The musicians live on the train for the entire time of the Canadian Holiday Train, which cross six provinces

· Each live performance takes place from a box car converted to a professional stage.

· Crowds donate money and nonperishable food, and the railroad presents a cheque at each stop to top off whatever is donated.

· Everything collected in a community stays in that community for local distribution.

About Canadian Pacific

Canadian Pacific, through the ingenuity of its employees located across Canada and in the United States, remains committed to being the safest, and most fluid railway in North America. Our people are the key to delivering innovative transportation solutions to our customers and to ensuring the safe operation of our trains through the more than 900 communities where we operate. Our combined ingenuity makes Canadian Pacific a better place to work, rail a better way to ship, and North America a better place to live. Come and visit us at www.cpr.ca to see how we can put our ingenuity to work for you. Canadian Pacific is proud to be the official rail freight services provider for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games

About the Canadian Association of Food Banks

Founded in 1985, the Canadian Association of Food Banks (CAFB) is a national umbrella organization representing a network of regional and community food banks, including provincial associations and food distribution centres. CAFB is the voice of food banks in Canada, with members and their agencies serving approximately 90 per cent of people relying on 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 2006, over 700,000 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 Meal Exchange:

Meal Exchange is a national student-founded, student-driven, registered charity that helps young Canadians realize their potential to improve the future of their communities, by providing them with meaningful opportunities to reduce local hunger today. Meal Exchange offers students in a national network of 40 universities and colleges, three fun, simple and creative programs including Trick or Eat ®, Skip-A-Meal ® and Clear the Shelves! ® as well supporting their own initiatives to address local hunger. Visit www.mealexchange.com

Editor’s Note: Visit our Holiday Train website the schedules, the musicians’ bios and photos, a route map and downloadable pictures of the train.

Canadian Media Contacts:

Breanne Feigel
(403) 319-3932(office)
(403) 589-6949 (cell)
breanne_feigel@cpr.ca

U.S. Media Contact:
Jeff Johnson
(612)851-5616
(612)723-6422 (cell)
jeffrey_w_johnson@cpr.ca