Every year, Canadians across the country and Americans in the northern United States look forward to the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train in their town or city, a train festooned in holiday decoration that has raised money, collects food and raises awareness of food banks since 1999.
This year, obviously, is different.
On September 24, Canadian Pacific announced that it would be cancelling its train's tour, offering instead an alternative: On December 12 at 6pm MT (8pm EST), the annual event will become a virtual concert that will be hosted and feature performances by Serena Ryder and The Trews as headliner along with special guests JoJo Mason, Logan Staats and Kelly Prescott.
The event has been listed on Facebook, where details about where to see the live event will be posted on the day of the concert.
"COVID-19 has created many challenges for communities across our network and has only increased the need at local food banks and food shelves," Keith Creel, the President and CEO of Canadian Pacific 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."
As far as 2021 is concerned, CP intends to resume operating the annual train tour next year provided circumstances change.
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