Train of lights rolling into Saskatoon for the holidays

SASKATOON – The 15th annual Canadian Pacific (CP) holiday train program is rolling into Saskatoon with glowing cheer on Wednesday.

Each CP locomotive has 14 brightly decorated rail cars with thousands of holiday lights and a modified boxcar that has been retrofitted into a travelling stage.

Musical entertainment by the likes of Melanie Doan and Doc Walker will be on hand for a live show fit for the whole family.

The ‘train of lights’ will be stopping in Wynyard, Sask. Wednesday afternoon before arriving in Saskatoon’s Sutherland neighbourhood at 140 – 107 Street East around 9:30 p.m.

CP’s holiday train program is travelling across North America raising money and awareness for hunger this holiday season.

People are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items or donations to support the Saskatoon Food Bank.

“We often will be able to fill up one or two bins in our truck which will be located down at the train this year,” said Laurie O’Connor, Saskatoon Food Bank executive director.

“A bin full of food goes a long way at the food bank and of course people have been great bringing nutritious food when they come and then CP of course supports food banks across the country with donations as well as what’s raised that night.”

Since 1999, the program has raised about $7.4 million and collected approximately 3 million pounds of food.

Saskatoon is one of about 150 stops made by two trains making their way across Canada and the United States for a combined distance of 10,000 kilometres.

The next stop in Saskatchewan is Regina on Thursday evening.