Since 1999, the CP Rail Holiday Train has been making the trip across the country to raise money, food, and awareness for food banks in communities across Canada.  A U.S. trip was added to the lineup in 2001.

The Holiday Train will be stopping in Maple Ridge again this year, at its usual stopping point, across from the Billy Miner Pub, on Friday, December 18th from 7:45 to 8:15pm.

If you’ve never had the opportunity to get out and see the train as it rolls through your community, you really should.  The train is decorated with lights, and makes the journey across the country, ending up in Port Moody, usually the weekend before Christmas.  Maple Ridge is the last stop on the tour before the train rolls up to its final destination.  CP has put up a photo gallery from past years, and there’s also video footage around if you know where to look.

This year’s entertainment consists of Shaun Verreault, the lead singer for Wide Mouth Mason, and alt-rockers The Odds.  Not to be exceedingly picky about it, but the music does tend to be a little louder than I’d want to bringing children to, but at the same time, getting that many people moving around and dancing when it’s a dark, cold, rainy night in December is always a welcome thing.  And hey, it’s all about celebrating Christmas, and helping out the local food banks.

Be sure to get there early as this is an event that’s extremely popular, considering that the train only makes three stops in the Lower Mainland (Agassiz, Maple Ridge and Port Moody), and it always feels like you’re having to park about a mile away from the site where the train stops.

Nonetheless, head out to the pub on Friday night and catch the train as it rolls through, and please don’t forget to make a donation, whether food or cash for the Friends In Need Food Bank.

Andrew Douglas (ad@ridgemeadowspost.com)