INNISFAIL - With the annual arrival of the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train last week, the old-fashioned magic of Christmas had scores of the young be-bopping to today's music.
"They were be-bopping along with everything that was going on. It was really good," said Innisfailian Ron Bosse, who brought his grandchildren down to the holiday train for the first time. "It was beautiful, quite a wonderful thing. Congratulations to Canadian Pacific and the artists that put in their time to do this. It is very good for the community."
Under cloudy skies but with comfortable warmer weather, the CP Holiday Train arrived on time at 1:15 p.m. on Dec. 12 at the 50th Street and 52nd Avenue crossing. It was the seventh year in a row the holiday train has stopped in Innisfail. This year marked the CP Holiday Train's 20th anniversary of journeying across North America to collect food and raise funds for food banks in communities in Canada and the United States.
Hundreds of Innisfailians were anxiously waiting, including many of the young from École John Wilson Elementary School and Innisfail Middle School, who were thrilled at the prospect of hearing the feel-good music by country stars Terri Clark, Kelly Prescott and Sierra Noble.
"I thought it was fantastic. We come every year. I've seen Terri Clark four times in concert," said Angela Miller, an Innisfail parent who attended to help watch over the school kids.
As exciting and entertaining as it was for the young, the event was all about taking the time to remember those in need during the holidays.
Brenda Hand, co-coordinator of the Innisfail and District Food Bank, said she was especially pleased with local citizens' generous contributions to the food bank for this Christmas season, as well as their ongoing support of the agency over the years.
She noted the food bank brought two trucks to the holiday train gathering that would be loaded with donations. Local service groups, including the Innisfail Lions Club, Rotary Club of Innisfail and Innisfail Kinsmen Club, were on hand to help.
"A nice little child came with a heavy box and she was the first to come, so we cheered for her," said Hand. "They are very generous and the town is very generous."
She said the need is increasing in the community with new hard-pressed families coming to the food bank every week.
"People are losing work or being cut back in their number of hours and losing their jobs," said Hand, adding the agency now helps about 20 families every week. "New people come. There are people at the food bank now as we speak.
"It is hard when you see people in need. People who come to the food bank are hungry otherwise they wouldn't come," she added. "People who have used the food bank often donate after they are back on their feet again."
And then came the big moment at the 45-minute holiday train stop. A cheque of $3,500 was presented by CP to Hand and the local food bank. The huge crowd erupted with a thunderous cheer.
"I have brought my kids here every year, and there are 23 here now and they love it," said Ashleigh Ure, a grades 3 and 4 teacher at John Wilson school. "Usually we come every single year for this. The kids enjoy it and it is for a great cause too."
