OREANDA-NEWS. Remarkable generosity, big crowds and tremendous community spirit were hallmarks of the 2014 Canadian Pacific (CP) Holiday Train program, which saw over CAD 1.1 million raised and 300,000 lbs of food donated to North American food banks and food shelves.

"The crowds in 2014 were simply amazing - a true reflection of all the hard work put in by community volunteers," said E. Hunter Harrison, CP CEO. "CP is proud to support local food banks across Canada and the U.S. and looks forward to the 2015 edition of the Holiday Train."

Since its start in 1999, the CP Holiday Train has helped to raise more than CAD 10.6 million and 3.6 million pounds of food for local food banks and food shelves.

This year, the CP Holiday Train program provided a platform for dialogue around access to healthy, nutritious food. Food organizations from east to west shared their stories of volunteerism and donations of fresh, locally-farmed foods getting to the most vulnerable people in our communities. Patrons attending Holiday Train events were asked to bring healthy food options while food shelves were asked to commit 10 percent or more of CP's monetary donation to healthy food initiatives or purchases.

Crowds at Holiday Train events were entertained by a number of musicians, including the pop-rock band Odds, Roxanne Potvin, Tracey Brown, and Jim Cuddy (of Blue Rodeo fame) on the Canadian tour and, in the U.S., country star Kira Isabella along with a cappella sensations Home Free.