Local food banks win with CP Holiday Train stop

Posted on: Staff Writer

From edition: December 27 2019 Strathmore Times

By Brad Everett Times Contributor

Kelly Prescott (l-r), Meghan Patrick and Tanika Charles rocked the crowd with seasonal songs during the CP Holiday Train’s last stop in Gleichen/Siksika on Dec. 18. Brad Everett Photo

Kelly Prescott (l-r), Meghan Patrick and Tanika Charles rocked the crowd with seasonal songs during the CP Holiday Train’s last stop in Gleichen/Siksika on Dec. 18.
Brad Everett Photo

Siksika Nation and Wheatland County food banks were the big winners with each receiving $3,000 from Canadian Pacific Rail as well as splitting 435 pounds of food and $3,200 raised when the Holiday Train made the final stop of its American trip at Gleichen/Siksika on Dec. 18.
While the amount of food donated was down from last year, the amount of funds raised through donations and sales were up – thanks in part to a $2,000 donation from the Gleichen Lions Club.
“What really makes this night magical is our partnership with Siksika Nation which helped make all this possible,” said Wheatland County Reeve Amber Link.
“It was a great night,” said Sandra Sparvier, health promotions liaison for Siksika Health Services. “I saw lots of happy kids and happy people.”
About 1,500 people came out for the event which began at 5 p.m. and concluded after 10 p.m. with the CP Holiday Train’s arrival and concert featuring Meghan Patrick, Tanika Charles and Kelly Prescott.
This was CP’s American Holiday Train which left Montreal on Nov. 26, making stops in southern Ontario and New York state, before picking up again in Chicago, Ill. It made its way through several U.S. states before crossing into Saskatchewan, concluding with the final show of the trip being in Gleichen on Dec. 18.