Holiday train marks the start of Christmas season

This marked the starting point of a cross-country fundraising journey by Canadian Pacific’s Holiday Train.

The cargo? A mobile stage for Canadian musicians Wide Mouth Mason and Melanie Doane, opening with Richard Séguin. Santa himself was on hand to kick off the gift-giving season, along with volunteers from the Moisson Montreal food bank, who took donations for community organizations throughout Greater Montreal.

“The message has always been to help food banks across Canada and the U.S. overcome shortages at this important times of the year,” Michel Spénard of Canadian Pacific announced from the train’s stage. On top of the railway transporter’s $6,000 donation to the food bank, Montreal area CP employees contributed an additional $3,800 worth of foodstuffs to Moisson.

An audience of 800 – largely young families – also lent a hand with donations while taking in the performance. “It’s a nice start to the holiday season, and it’s a good organization to contribute to,” said Darlene Dubiel of Beaconsfield, who braved unseasonably cold temperatures with husband John Nesbitt and six-year-old son Nicholas.

The typical midwinter weather made the event all the more genuine. “Actually it makes for the perfect setting,” said local resident Marc-André Séguin, who sought warmth within the station with wife Caroline and infant sons Noah and Miles. The Holiday Train outside also offered a glimpse of Santa. “Noah’s never seen Santa before,” said Caroline, “and he loves trains too.”

Volunteers offered coffee and hot chocolate to donors within the station, provided by (who else?) Tim Horton’s, while crowds outside watched brief, energetic performances from the platform. Quebec chansonnier Richard Séguin was a surprise opener for Saskatchewan’s Wide Mouth Mason and Nova Scotia’s Melanie Doane. The rock band and Juno award-winning Doane were onboard to play at every stop of the cross-country Holiday Train, amounting to some 70 communities across Canada. The train’s two-week journey ends in Port Moody, B.C. on Dec. 18.

Saturday marked the third year of the tour’s start in Beaconsfield.

“Whether you’re in a very small town or a more populated location like here, the crowds are just as excited, and it really means a lot,” said Michel Spénard, manager of public affairs for CP. “I’ve had a lot of people from food banks tell me that after we’ve gone through, they could stretch their food allowances to about July of the next year. So it really makes a difference.”