CPR Holiday Train 2010

This year's entertainment will be provided by Vancouver alternative rock legends, the Odds. (Photo by CPR)

Dec 13-15, Many locations –

The CPR Holiday Train is on the rails once more and will be hitting the BC border on December 13, 2010. By the time the tour ends the train will have visited 140 communities, (70 each in Canada and the US) raising money for local food banks along the way. Since its beginning in 1999 more than $4.8 million in cash and over 2.3 million pounds of food has been collected in the two countries.

Bedecked with thousands of Christmas lights, the train is a sight to behold as it rolls into a community to the cheers of throngs of folks young and not-so-young. The sides of one of the cars open up to reveal a stage and Santa is the opening act, followed by the giving of a cheque to the local food bank and then get ready for some great musical entertainment -– this year it will be the Odds, Vancouver alternative rock legends who are getting the chilly audiences rocking with their upbeat sound.

A new fundraising feature this year is a special CD entitled ‘Holiday Train Tracks’, featuring songs from the Odds, Melanie Doane, the Barenaked Ladies, Dube Brothers and more. You can purchase the CDs at each Holiday Train stop, at local food banks or pantries and at CP Shops. Be quick, though, because there is a limited supply available. You can also download the album at iTunes or CDBaby.

The Holiday Train schedule will be as follows:

Monday, December 13 –

• Golden – 4:15pm at the CP yard across from 7-11 store on 10th Ave.

• Revelstoke – 8pm on Victoria Road, adjacent to the CP parking lot

Tuesday, December 14 –

• Sicamous – 5:15pm at the northwest corner of Hwy. 1 at Silver Sand Rd, intersection, east of Draw Bridge

• Salmon Arm – 7pm – Lordco parking lot, 51 Lakeshore Drive N.E.

• Notch Hill – 9pm at Notch Hill Rd. Crossing across from Hotch Hill Hall, 1639 Notch Hill Rd.

Wednesday, December 15 –

• Chase – 4:15pm on the north side of Shuswap Ave, across from Chase RCMP detachment

• Kamloops – 7pm on the north side of Interior Savings on Lorne Street

You are asked to bring a donation of non-perishable food items or cash to support your local food bank.

Please note: All times are local and approximate. The schedule is subject to change so be sure to check the arrival time prior to attending the event and plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early.