Holiday Train stops at Pincher Station

Melanie Doane, Matt Dusk, and Santa entertain the crowd at Pincher Station
C. Davis photos and video

Chris Davis

The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train stopped at Pincher Station yesterday morning, December 10. Given the very cold and windy weather it was perhaps unfortunate that there is no longer a station at Pincher Station, but the throngs that showed up to enjoy the event were well entertained by Melanie Doane, Matt Dusk, and the Holiday Train Band.

 Santa was the first to make an appearance, mingling with the crowd and sharing from his sack. Then the big stage door came down as the music swelled dramatically. From then on it was a party, albeit a frosty one, complete with Doane's fiddle and dulcet tones and Dusk's smooth big-band era vocal style.

The CP Holiday train runs every year before Christmas but stops in specific communities bi-annually, to better cover as many communities in Canada and the United States as possible over the course of a couple of years. Attendees are encourage to bring donations for their local Food Bank, and those donations stay in the donors' community.

Mayor Don Anderberg and Reeve Brian Hammond

Town of Pincher Creek Mayor Don Anderberg and MD of Pincher Creek Reeve Brian Hammond were invited to address the crowd.

"It's Christmas, good morning everybody,' said Mayor Anderberg.  "I would like to extend our welcome to Canadian Pacific, and this great program that's going on. Let's give these people a real round of applause and welcome from Pincher Creek."

"Thanks to CP rail, all of the performers and everyone that's involved in this."

"I see the truck here is being loaded up here with food and gifts, thank you all for bringing those."
"Have a very merry Christmas, and thank you very much on behalf of the Town of Pincher Creek."

Reeve Hammond expressed similar sentiments. "Welcome everybody, thanks so much for coming out on a day like this," he said. "We really appreciate that. On behalf of our Council and the residents of our Municipality, we welcome you here and thank you so much for coming. Also of course, to the CPR employees, and the entertainment for the terrific job you've done on such a cold day."

Mayor Anderberg, Reeve Hammond, Napi's Sandra Gibb, and CP's Mike Crockett
with  $4000 donation to Pincher Creek's Food Bank

After those two dignitaries spoke, Napi Friendship Association Executive Director Sandra Gibb and local Canadian Pacific Constable Mike Crockett were invited to the stage, and Gibb was presented with a check from Canadian Pacific for $4,000 towards Napi's Food Bank efforts.

"Wow, it's so exciting," said Gibb. "The Town of Pincher Creek is known for it's generousity, and without the help of all you good folks the food bank certainly wouldn't be in the place it's in today. Actually, we're in our new spot, over on Kettles, so I'd like for all of you to come over there and join us. We're still in the process of putting cans on the shelves, so if you'd like to pitch in, it would be great. Next week we're starting the hampers for Christmas and this is a very good start for our hampers. Thank you everybody, we just appreciate it."

See you soon, Santa

Santa made another appearance during a performance of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town", and then it was over. The stage door closed and the Holiday Train moved on down the line to Coleman and parts west, "making a difference one stop at a time".

David Green dropping off a friend's Food Bank donation