All aboard! The Holiday Train is coming to town

By Lethbridge Herald on December 12, 2025.

AlejandraPulido-Guzman
Lethbridge Herald

The CPKC Holiday Train will be stopping in Lethbridge on Saturday with the Bare Naked Ladies to raise funds, awareness, and donations for the Lethbridge Food Bank. 

Emily Beilby, executive administrator of the Lethbridge Food Bank says they are expecting a large crowd and hopefully just as many donations. 

“Every couple of years we are on the route of the CPKC Holiday Train, so this year is our turn again, and CPKC brings the Holiday train around to spread awareness for the food banks across Canada,” says Beilby. 

She said they link that with artists performances and turn it into a great big party to not only entertain but to encourage individuals, and families to attend the event with a donation of non-perishable foods for the food bank.  

“It’s amazing for us because not only do we gather non-perishable foods, CPKC also donates a substantial monetary contribution. We’ll be receiving $8000 on Saturday night from them for the event, before we even collect the non-perishable food items,” says Beilby. 

She says it is extremely timely for the food bank to receive this help from this event, as they   are in the middle of hamper rollout for their clients for Christmas.  

“It’s a great time to be able to make sure all our families receive everything they need for Christmas,” said Beilby. 

She says the items they will benefit from include peanut butter, pasta, pasta sauce, meals in a can like canned ravioli, canned fruit and vegetables, and canned meats.  

When speaking about the expected crowd, Beilby shares that since it is the Bare Naked Ladies, they are expecting a large crowd, and they are prepared for it. 

“We’re going to have multiple vans on site, our red collection bins and we’re going to be able to fill out as much as possible,” says Beilby. 

And since they are expecting a large crowd, Beilby shares they are taking the necessary precautions to keep everyone safe while attending the event. 

“We have teamed up with Lethbridge area Search and Rescue, and they are offering confinement and crowd control, and they’re going to be offering EMT support, as well as lost children support,” says Beilby. 

She says Lethbridge Police and CPKC Police will also be present as the Lethbridge Food Bank is prioritizing the health and safety of everyone attending. 

In terms of how the event will take place, Beilby says they will have a barricaded area between Canadian Tire and London Drugs parking lot, and they will have their donation bins and their vans on site. 

“We’re going to be very visible collecting for donations. The parking lot will barricade all the way around to the South of the parking lot adjacent to the railway,” says Beilby. 

She says the event is due to start at 7:15 p.m. and the performance lasts for half an hour. The train will pull in at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, with the performance taking place between 7:15 and 7:45 p.m. 

“We’re advising people to arrive by 6:00 p.m. and to dress for the weather,” says Beilby. 

Comments are closed.