Community generosity and the CP Holiday Train raise over $1.1 million and 300,000 lbs of food on 2014 tour

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Jan 08, 2015, 10:00 ET

CALGARY, Jan. 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ - Remarkable generosity, big crowds and tremendous community spirit were hallmarks of the 2014 Canadian Pacific (CP) Holiday Train program, which saw over C$1.1 million raised and 300,000 lbs of food donated to North American food banks and food shelves.

"The crowds in 2014 were simply amazing - a true reflection of all the hard work put in by community volunteers," said E. Hunter Harrison, CP CEO. "CP is proud to support local food banks across Canada and the U.S. and looks forward to the 2015 edition of the Holiday Train."

Since its start in 1999, the CP Holiday Train has helped to raise more than C$10.6 million and 3.6 million pounds of food for local food banks and food shelves.

This year, the CP Holiday Train program provided a platform for dialogue around access to healthy, nutritious food. Food organizations from east to west shared their stories of volunteerism and donations of fresh, locally-farmed foods getting to the most vulnerable people in our communities. Patrons attending Holiday Train events were asked to bring healthy food options while food shelves were asked to commit 10 percent or more of CP's monetary donation to healthy food initiatives or purchases.

Crowds at Holiday Train events were entertained by a number of musicians, including the pop-rock band Odds, Roxanne Potvin, Tracey Brown, and Jim Cuddy (of Blue Rodeo fame) on the Canadian tour and, in the U.S., country star Kira Isabella along with a cappella sensations Home Free.

To continue to support the Holiday Train and receive updates for next year's program, visit us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @CPHolidaytrain #CPHolidayTrain. For additional information, photos, a route map, and downloadable pictures of the two trains, visit: www.cpr.ca/holiday-train.

About the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train
CP's annual Holiday Train program is a rolling fundraising event that travels across Canada and the United States raising money, food, and awareness for food banks and hunger issues, hosting free holiday concerts along the way. Since 1999 the program has raised over C$10.6 million and 3.6 million pounds of food. Each Holiday Train is about 1,000 feet in length with 14 rail cars decorated with hundreds of thousands of technology-leading LED lights and a modified boxcar that has been turned into a traveling stage for performers.

About CP
Canadian Pacific (TSX:CP)(NYSE:CP) is a transcontinental railway in Canada and the United States with direct links to eight major ports, including Vancouver and Montreal, providing North American customers a competitive rail service with access to key markets in every corner of the globe. CP is growing with its customers, offering a suite of freight transportation services, logistics solutions and supply chain expertise. Visit cpr.ca to see the rail advantages of Canadian Pacific.

SOURCE Canadian Pacific