CP Cancels 2020 Holiday Train

It is a tradition enjoyed by both young and old as a special train, the CP Holiday Train, came to the City on an annual basis is cancelled for 2020. The reason given for the cancellation this year is due to the COVID - 19 pandemic.

In its’ place Canadian Pacific is hosting a virtual concert as well as drawing attention to food safety and still donating to local food banks including Moose Jaw’s.

According to a news release “the modified program will draw attention to food security issues, while ensuring donations go to all food banks that would ordinarily receive them, including those that typically host a Holiday Train event in alternating years.

The local food bank collecting food at the 2019 CP Holiday Train - file photo

“COVID-19 has created many challenges for communities across our network and has only increased the need at local food banks and food shelves,” CP President and Chief Executive Officer Keith Creel said in a statement. “It is our honor to continue to donate to communities across our network this year, even if the train itself will not run. The spirit of the Holiday Train program and the Christmas spirit will carry on this year through our virtual concert. We will have the Holiday Train rolling again spreading Christmas cheer as soon as it’s safe to do so!”  

At the present time the Saskatchewan government, along with other provincial/state governments and health officials, has limited crowd size to potentially stop the spread of COVID - 19. The large crowds that accompany the Holiday Train’s stops would violate those rules.

This year to keep the tradition of live music which the train has brought to the communities it stops in, including Moose Jaw, CP is planning a special virtual concert and will release the details once they are available.

Started in 1999 the Holiday train has raised $17.8 million for food banks where it stops as well as collecting 4.8 million pounds of food at its various stops to feed those in need.