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The Lethbridge crowd takes in the performance by Terri Clark and Dallas Smith (Lethbridge News Now)

Successful tour across North America for CP Holiday Train

Dec 24, 2019 | 8:30 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The Canadian Pacific (CP) Holiday Train was not only a success at the local level, but it made an impact across North America as well.

The 21st annual trek from the musical and brightly lit locomotive supported more than 170 communities along CP routes this month.

Final numbers are still being calculated, but CP Rail said more than $1.49 million was raised. In addition, 238,393 pounds of food have been collected for food banks and food shelves across North America.

The Holiday Train has raised more than $16.7 million and collected 4.7 million pounds of food since its first journey back in 1999.

On the train that travelled through the United States and parts of Canada, Alan Doyle and The Beautiful Band kicked off the tour in Montreal, before moving through New York and southern Ontario. Canadian Country Music Association Female Artist of the Year Meghan Patrick took over in Chicago.

She was joined by Tanika Charles and Kelly Prescott. Vishten, an Acadian trio, performed shows in French and English at stops in Quebec. The U.S. train’s last stop was in Gleichen, Alberta.

The Canadian train, which travelled from Montreal to Calgary, included performances from Madeline Merlo and Scott Helman. Terri Clark then took over alongside Dallas Smith from southern Alberta to the last stop in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia. That leg of the tour included a stop in Lethbridge.

READ MORE: Holiday Train provides another successful visit – on several fronts

At the Lethbridge event, the Lethbridge Food Bank received an $8,000 donation from CP Rail.

The visit also collected 1,703 pounds of food and $1,170 in cash donations for the food bank from members of the local community.