Thousands were on hand as the CP Holiday Train made a stop in Windsor Friday night.
Musical acts JoJo Mason and Sam Roberts Band opened for jolly old St. Nick to drum up support for local food banks — Canadian Pacific Rail presented the Unemployed Help Centre with a $7,000 cheque to get the ball rolling.
.@samrobertsband hits the stage for the 20th anniversary of the @CPHolidayTrain. @AM800News #cklw pic.twitter.com/lhOgO5ARrO
— Gord Bacon (@baconAM800) November 30, 2018
Jojo Mason kicking things off @CPHolidayTrain. @AM800News #cklw pic.twitter.com/eqIUMjwK7h
— Gord Bacon (@baconAM800) November 30, 2018
Windsor's Collin Ollet tells AM800 News, it's not his first time rocking out at the CP Rail Yard, but this year was a little cooler than most.
"I really liked Sam Roberts, I got to fist bump him too," he says. "It was awesome; I think it was pretty cool."
It was the first of what may become a family tradition for 10-year-old Abigail, 13-year-old Julia, and four-year-old Reese Balkwill. Their parents brought them down from Lakeshore to see the train for the first time.
"It was cool to see everyone so happy. It was really busy, but it was worth it," says Abigail.
Julia added, "I'm glad we came; it was a lot of fun."
Life-long Windsor resident Valerie Gujban tells AM800 News she didn't know seeing the train in person was an option.
"I've always seen it on TV and thought it was too bad it didn't come this way and then my friend told me it did so we decided to come out," says Gujban. "I'll come back again next year."
Food and money collected will help stock the shelves of 15 food banks in Windsor-Essex.
.@samrobertsband says #Windsor drew the biggest crowd of the @CPHolidayTrain tour. @UHC_ received $7,000 towards its food bank and continues to gather donations at the event. @AM800News #cklw pic.twitter.com/KBvWkxQf8h
— Gord Bacon (@baconAM800) November 30, 2018