THUNDER BAY – The CPKC Holiday Train rolled into Thunder Bay on Monday night, one of 160 stops it will make, spreading Christmas cheer and donations to local food agencies like the Regional Food Distribution Association.
Hundreds of people lined the tracks when the train, decked out in holiday lights, arrived, the stage lowered and singer Shawnee Kish started singing.
She was joined in the spotlight by Tyler Shaw, a multi-platinum artist who has opened for the likes of Alessia Cara and Shawn Mendes.
“I’m having the best time on the Holiday Train,” Kish said. “And I want to thank you so much for standing here with us. We are raising the means to help people who need a helping hand this time of the year. So thank you.”
Between sets, officials from CPKC handed over a $13,000 cheque to the RFDA, an organization that helps provide food to food banks throughout Northwestern Ontario and also provides food-based programming, including a community kitchen.
“We just want to say thanks to the entertainers and the railway to come from across the country to come and see us here,” said Thunder Bay Mayor Ken Boshcoff, who took to the stage alongside the RFDA’s Volker Kromm.
“Let’s give them a really big Thunder Bay welcome.”
Kromm, who rode the train from Nipigon, said it was amazing journey back to Thunder Bay.
“You have no idea what spectacle that CPKC has done, until you ride the train from Nipigon. I have seen thousands of people lining the streets and the crossings, in places like Hurkett and Dorion and Nipigon. I want to thank you all for making the season kind,” Kromm said.
“This is a time of giving and sharing and caring and that’s what Thunder Bay is all about. We’re good at that. Let’s feed everyone.”
Nine-year-old Creed Mamakeesick was among the first in line to greet the festive train, and could barely contain his excitement.
“I’m very excited,” he said, between bites of his candy cane. “I get to stay up late.”
Eight-year-old Sawyer Schmidt said her friend was also on board from Nipigon and she couldn’t wait to see her and ask her about the experience.
“I’m also looking forward to seeing it,” she said.
Niaomi Pereira, 11, said circumstances didn’t allow them to hang around for last year’s Holiday Train.
“We had to catch a bus,” she said. “So, I’m glad to be here today to enjoy the train. I’ve never seen it before.”
Meanwhile Tekira Varga, 15, said she’s glad it wasn’t as cold as she expected, which made the hour-long wait a lot more enjoyable.
“It involves a lot of memories for people,” the teenager said. “Since a young age I’ve been going to this train and it created a lot of memories growing up as I did it more and more.”
Varga estimated she’s been to the Holiday Train at least eight or nine times.
Over 26 years, the train has collected more than five million pounds of food and donated more than $24 million.
The Holiday Train will run through Canada and the United States through Dec. 20.
It will travel to Ignace, Dryden, Vermillion Bay, Kenora and Ingolf on Tuesday before leaving Ontario for Manitoba.
