The Canadian-Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) Holiday Train will be touring through Canada and the United States from November 21 to December 20th, raising money, food and awareness to support foodbanks across North America.
The Holiday Train features live entertainment with bands playing at each of their stops from the beautifully decorated train's stage. CPKC donates to the local food bank at each stop and encourages everyone in attendance to make a monetary or heart-healthy food donation.
Travelling through Manitoba, the CPKC Holiday Train will make its way west, stopping in Portage, Carberry, Brandon and Virden before it hits the Saskatchewan border.
Samaritan House Ministries hosts the Holiday Train at it bi-annual visit in the Wheat City, collecting food items and cash donations on site.
Executive Director Barbara McNish, says her retirement is in mid-December and so new Executive Director, Heather Symbalisty will be accepting the donation on behalf of Samaritan House, and Barbara will be dressing up as Mrs. Claus!
"They asked if we would like to speak and I thought it was close to the time of my retirement," shares McNish, "and so Heather can step in and do that and I will be out amongst the crowd giving children candy canes!"
Since its inaugural journey in 1999, the CPKC Holiday Train has raised more than $24.3 million and collected approximately 5.3 million pounds of food for community food banks in Canada and the U.S.
The CPKC Holiday Train stops in Westman Region:
- Portage - December 5th from 3:00-3:30 pm - 309 1st Street NW
- Carberry - December 5th from 5:15-5:45 pm - 4th Aven between Main and Simcoe
- Brandon - December 5th from 7:00-7:30 pm - field south of the CPKC tracks north of Rosser Ave E
- Virden - December 6th from 10:30 am -11:00 am - north side of the tracks on 5th Ave S.
Please listen to more with Barbara McNish below!