CALGARY – Canadian Pacific has set the details for a concert to be live-streamed as part of its virtual version of the CP Holiday Train.
The Dec. 18 event, dubbed the “CP Holiday Train at Home” concert, will originate from the train’s cars in Calgary. It is part of CP’s continuing charity efforts with the train sidelined for the second year in a row because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“With the ‘Holiday Train at Home’ concert, CP hopes to inspire support for food banks across North America,” CP President and CEO Keith Creel said in a news release. “Though we are disappointed we again cannot bring an in-person show to communities along our rail lines, it fills us with joy to bring together such outstanding musicians for a performance that will help feed Canadians and Americans in need. The CP family looks forward to bringing the Holiday Train back on tour as soon as it’s safe.”
CP will donate $1.24 million this year to 198 food banks in communities that ordinarily host Holiday Train events. In a normal year, CP calls on attendees at local shows to make a cash or nonperishable food donation. Viewers seeking to donate will be directed to Food Banks Canada and Feeding America, the national organizations that support community food banks in their respective countries. Viewers are also encouraged to give to their local food bank.
Canadian Music Hall-of-Famer Steven Page and The Strumbellas will be the concert headliner, along with performances by Keb’ Mo’, The Trews, Tanika Charles, Odds, Aysanabee, and Sierra Noble.
CP normally operates two Holiday Trains each year across its system in Canada and the U.S. CP’s 2021 corporate donation will bring the total amount of money raised at CP Holiday Train stops to $20.64 million since the train’s inception in 1999. Food banks have also collected 4.9 million pounds of food donations at local Holiday Train events.
— Updated at 11:30 a.m. CST on Nov. 21 to emphasize concert details.
Good that they are doing something, sad that they are not running the train.
And as someone who celebrates Chanukah, and appreciates that other ethnic, religious and cultural groups, etc. celebrate different holidays, I appreciate what CP calls this.
Somehow a virtual concert just doesn’t generate the excitement of the actual train all decorated and entertaining. Maybe next year sanity will return.
The name of MY HOLIDAY is that I’m not afraid of crowds.
Patrick and Neil, Happy Diwali, Hanukah, Thanksgiving, Christmas ….. the one and same God loves all of us equally.
I feel compelled to point out that not everyone celebrates Christmas — there are other holidays that some of us celebrate at this time of the year. I’m glad that the Canadian Pacific Railway is willing to acknowledge all of us with their Holiday train.
The name of the holiday is Christmas.