The Canadian Pacific’s Holiday Train rolled into town across from Agricultural Hall in Agassiz, albeit a bit late on Friday night, as a frozen and enthusiastic crowd of onlookers enjoyed the annual event.
Children, and adults of all ages, braved the cold, enjoying a cup of hot chocolate and frost as they waited with anticipation for its big arrival.
Though it was delayed an hour and a half, eager crowds, waited for the big presentation of a $7000 cheque to go toward Agassiz Harrison Community Services’ (AHCS) food bank.
“It’s so helpful, and it’s really a blessing — as a food bank coordinator I know how many people that amount is going to feed,” said Lisa Hodgkinson, food bank coordinator at AHCS.
The evening’s entertainment was a smash success with Dallas Smith and the Odds who gave a stellar performance for the 18th year that the Holiday Train has been rolling into towns across Canada and the United States.
Since 1999, the program has raised close to $9.5 million and 3.3 million pounds of food. Each Holiday Train is about 1,000 feet in length with 14 rail cars decorated with hundreds of thousands of technology-leading LED lights and a modified boxcar that has been turned into a traveling stage for performers.
“It was really a great time, with Dallas Smith and Odds who gave a great performance, and there was still quite a lot of people who came out despite the cold,” said Hodgkinson.