(The following story by Kate Everson appeared on the Stirling Community Press website on November 24.)
BELLEVILLE — The CPR Holiday Train will be making a stop in Belleville on December 7 for the first time in its five years on the rails.
Decorated with over 8,000 coloured lights and loaded with some of Canada’s top entertainers, its boxcar doors will swing open to offer Christmas music and collect donations for local food banks. It will also present a cheque to Quinte area food banks.
“The season is the reason,” said Susan Walsh of the Belleville Business Improvement Area (BBIA) at a press conference on November 18. “The city has been working with the BBIA to make Belleville a destination.”
Canadian entertainer Tom Jackson, known for his Huron Carole, will be the guest entertainer on the train, along with Beverly Mahood and Duane Steele. As well, Walsh hopes local musicians will entertain the crowds as they wait at the South Front Street and Pinnacle tracks for the 4:45 p.m. arrival.
“We need entertainers and lots of volunteers to help out,” Walsh said. “We could use some people helping pedestrians across the tracks to ensure safety and some others to serve hot cider.”
As well, people are asked to bring a donation for the food bank, non-perishable items such as canned goods, pasta, pasta sauce, peanut butter, canned juice and vegetable soup. The food will be stored at the Gleaners Food Bank warehouse and distributed by the Quinte Region Food Support Services throughout food banks in Brighton, Deseronto, Belleville, Madoc, Marmora, Picton, Stirling, Trenton, Tweed and Salvation Army programs in Belleville, Picton, Tweed and Trenton. These programs serve over 160 families and more than 4,400 people a month.
“We don’t want anyone to miss this historic and unforgettable Christmas event,” Walsh said. “Come out, enjoy and make a cash or food donation.”
Walsh said local service clubs and church groups are encouraged to pool their efforts to support the event.
In the past four years the CPR Holiday Train has raised more than $1.3-million and more than 160 tonnes of food for local food banks along its Canadian and U.S. routes, travelling through six provinces and six states. A donation will be made by CPR and sponsors to local food banks at the event. The train travels from St. Therese in Quebec to British Columbia, arriving just before Christmas.
For more information on how you can help out, contact Sue Walsh at the BBIA at 613-968-2242.