The CPKC Holiday Train in Kamloops on Dec. 18, 2025.

By Victor Kaisar

CPKC Holiday Train

Annual CPKC Holiday Train stop collects thousands in donations for Kamloops Food Bank

Dec 19, 2025 | 2:44 PM

KAMLOOPS — The CPKC Holiday Train rolled into Kamloops Thursday (Dec. 18) as it made its latest cross-country stop to help raise money, food and awareness to support food banks.

The Kamloops event outside Sandman Centre drew a large crowd as thousands of people braved inclement weather to catch a glimpse of the Barenaked Ladies.

Tyler Lowey, the communications and engagement lead with the Kamloops Food Bank, said people also came bearing gifts.

“We got nearly $40,000 raised and then just about 5,000 pounds of food, which is just over $18,000 worth of food that we collected,” Lowey told CFJC. “It was really impressive for one evening’s worth of work.”

Lowey estimates there were between 6,000 and 7,000 people gathered outside Sandman Centre in Kamloops, though he admits he lost count at about the 5,000 mark.

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“There were people everywhere,” he said. “They were on the stairs and in the entire parking lot. People were on that second level plaza by the box office they were everywhere.”

“We had great entertainment and a great crowd even though the weather sucked. The weather was windy and rainy and it didn’t really matter at all. We saw a record crowd come out and we got an incredible amount of donations and we’re really thankful for everyone in Kamloops.”

The CPKC Holiday Train also made stops in Chase, Savona and Ashcroft yesterday. It was in Lytton earlier Friday as it works its way towards Vancouver.

“Every year, our railroaders take great pride in bringing the Holiday Train across our network, this year reaching even more communities for the first time,” Keith Creel, the CPKC President and CEO, said in a statement.

“It’s incredible to see communities come together every year to celebrate the holidays while supporting local food banks.”