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The 2019 CP Holiday Train coming to Wilkie Dec. 5

Dec. 5 will be a busy day in Wilkie when the CP Holiday Train arrives at 1:15 p.m., with the holiday show from 1:30 to 2 pm.
holiday train

Dec. 5 will be a busy day in Wilkie when the CP Holiday Train arrives at 1:15 p.m., with the holiday show from 1:30 to 2 pm. Entertainers are Madeline Merlo of Maple Ridge and Scott Helman of Toronto, both are award-winning artists and will be performing on the stage, which is part of the train. It is a unique experience that everyone should come out and see.
When Mike LoVecchio, Director Government Affairs, Canadian Pacific announced that Wilkie was going to be a stop for the 2019 Holiday Train, there was excitement about the event, as the train had been in 2017 and, despite the cold, had drawn large crowds who gave donations to the food bank and enjoyed an entertaining afternoon.  In 2018, the CP Holiday Train raised over $1.3 million and more than 200,000 pounds of food across Canada, bringing a total of $15.8 million and 4.5 million pounds of food raised since 1999 to help those in need.
There have been food donations made in Wilkie and there will be more before the train arrives, plus a special presentation which will be announced at the event.
The train has been in Wilkie a number of times with some stops more memorable that others, like when the temperature was a minus 37 but didn’t stop people coming out, bundling up, ready to listen to the entertainment and give donations so that no one goes hungry.
Mayor Ziegler along with all of council are pleased the train is coming to Wilkie. The history of the town and the Canadian Pacific Railway are entwined, as Wilkie became a divisional point in 1908, when the Canadian Pacific arrived and continued heading west. Along with the spectators are former and present-day employees of the CPR, who each have their own story about working for the railroad and seeing the beautifully decorated train come into town brings back wonderful memories for them.  The generosity of the people, both monetary and with food, is heartwarming. Food donations are given to the Christmas Hamper committee who make up Christmas hampers for those in need, while monetary donations are given to the Wilkie Food Bank.