Canadian Pacific's brightly decorated Holiday Train returns to the rails in late November, raising food, money and awareness for food banks across North America.  Last year, the Holiday Train helped raise more than $500,000 and 250,000 lbs of food and there is greater need this year.

"Canadian Pacific is proud to support communities where we operate, raising more than $4 million in funds and two million pounds of food in the Holiday Train's first decade," said CP President and CEO Fred Green. "Each year, the Holiday Train's message gets stronger and the impact on our employees and in communities becomes more meaningful."

At each stop, Canadian Pacific provides a brightly decorated train, a box car converted into a stage, great musical talent and a corporate contribution to the local food bank. The community, in turn, rallies together at this free event - donating food and funds, all of which stays in their community. 

"Each month, thousands of Canadians are faced with making the very real choice between paying rent or buying food," said Katharine Schmidt, Executive Director of Food Banks Canada.  "Canadian Pacific has become an important partner in supporting these families in need."

Food Banks Canada and its members, affiliate members and respective agencies serve approximately 85 percent of food bank clients in Canada and recently confirmed that 20% more Canadians are enlisting the help of food banks compared to a year ago.

The headlining musical talents on the Canadian Holiday Train this year are alternative rock band The Odds and blues-rocker Shaun Verreault. The Odds bring their energy and full voiced harmonies to the Holiday Train stage for the first time.  With international hits such as "Someone Who's Cool" and "Love is the Subject", this power pop quartet will be sure to entertain.

"Across North America, wherever there are people who are in need of food, there are communities dedicated to feeding that need" said Verreault.  "The Holiday Train helps communities help each other, not just during the holiday season, but year round and I'm honored to help supply the soundtrack to such an inspiring program."

Over 70 Canadian cities, towns and villages will experience the Holiday Train spirit, starting in Montreal on Saturday, November 28 and concluding in Port Moody on Friday, December 18.  In the U.S, a second Holiday Train will visit more than 40 communities including for the first time communities in South Dakota along CP's Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad subsidiary.

Complete schedule details, downloads, pictures and video for the 2009 Holiday Train can be found on www.cpr.ca.

About Canadian Pacific:

Canadian Pacific, through the ingenuity of its employees located across Canada and in the United States, remains committed to being the safest, most fluid railway in North America.  Our people are the key to delivering innovative transportation solutions to our customers and to ensuring the safe operation of our trains through the more than 1,100 communities where we operate.  Come and visit us at www.cpr.ca to see how we can put our ingenuity to work for you.  Canadian Pacific is proud to be the official rail freight services provider for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Editors please note:  For detailed schedules, musicians' biographies and photos, a route map and downloadable pictures of the train, visit www.cpr.ca and click the Holiday Train icon.

Media Contacts:

East of Sudbury ON:

Michel Spenard

Manager, Media Relations and Public Affairs

Canadian Pacific

514-835-1774

michel_spenard@cpr.ca

Kevin Hrysak

Manager, Media Relations

Canadian Pacific

403-836-3874

kevin_hrysak@cpr.ca

Mike LoVecchio

Senior Manager, Media Relations

Canadian Pacific

778-772-9636

mike_lovecchio@cpr.ca