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CP Canada 150 Train rolls into town

The CP Canada 150 travelling musical show made a stop in Thunder Bay, with performers like Dean Brody delighting music fans.

THUNDER BAY - It was a concert like no other, as the thumping of steel wheels on rails and the blast of a whistle greeted music fans in Thunder Bay.

On Sunday, the Canadian Pacific Railway Canada 150 Train rolled into Marina Park, carrying with it some musical superstars, including country singer, Dean Brody.

“It’s so cool,” Brody said after the show. “The whole concept of pulling up on a track and pulling down the door and just stepping out and performing. It’s something I’ve never done before. I love it. It’s an amazing way to spend the summer.”

The CP Canada 150 Train is being led by the historic F-unit diesel locomotive built in 1958 and has been touring the country since Jul. 28 when it began its musical journey in Port Moody, B.C. It will finish its 13-stop trip in Ottawa on Aug. 20.

“The train itself is about connecting the nation,” said April Crane, Director of communications and marketing with CP Rail. “Over 130 years ago, CP helped build Canada and as part of that, we wanted to celebrate the 150th anniversary by bringing this train, these shows, to 13 locations across this beautiful country.”

Crane said the response across the country has been incredible and it continues to build momentum.

“As we got started, the crowds have been wonderful every where we’ve gone but they have been getting bigger as we’ve been moving across the country,” she said.

That momentum continued with the stop in Thunder Bay, as more than 1,000 people gathered outside of the parked train for this unique concert.

To kick off the afternoon, Kelly Prescott led the crowd through some iconic Canadian songs by artists like Stan Rogers, Tom Cochrane, Bryan Adams, and the Tragically Hip.    

“It’s so much fun and to hear the crowd singing along with these songs, you kind of forget sometimes how huge those hits were, and when you do just a little bit of it and everyone is singing along, it kind of gives you chills,” Prescott said.

Prescott is no stranger to performing on the rails, already serving as a regular performed aboard the CP Holiday train for several seasons.

“It’s a great way to see the country,” she said. “You are on a pretty incredible piece of history and getting to play music with friends and family. And to get to do it in the summer! Usually the holiday train we are freezing our hands off, so it has been a blast.”

Following Prescott’s musical tribute, Dallas Arcand, a world champion hoop dancer, took to the stage.

“I’ve always had a passion for music, ever since I was a young boy,” he said. “I watched my parents, and family jamming to music, and I was right there with them playing the spoons, and acoustic guitar.”

Arcand said it has been an honour and a privilege to be a part of the Canada 150 Train touring the country.

“I’m the only First Nation person on this train tour,” he said. “It’s a blessing and many blessings along the way to meet all these good people.”

It has been like travelling with one big family, Arcand said, and he described Brody as being like a big brother.

Brody, who took home the 2014 Juno Award for Country Album of the Year, closed out the show and was a huge hit.

The country star said his time touring on the CP Canada 150 Train will be something he will always remember and he is grateful to be a part of history.

“I’m proud of my country, especially this being the 150th anniversary, it’s awesome and being able to look back on this, I’m going to think: damn, I can’t believe I was on this train and making these memories with Canadian’s along the way,” he said.

But the Canada 150 Train is about more than just music. It is about connecting the nation and the people, just as the railway did more than 130 years ago.

“It’s nice to connect with my fellow Canadians because we are all in this together and we are the greatest together when we connect on all levels, all races, all nationalities,” Arcand said. “It’s just a beautiful thing when we have that kind of unity.”



Doug Diaczuk

About the Author: Doug Diaczuk

Doug Diaczuk is a reporter and award-winning author from Thunder Bay. He has a master’s degree in English from Lakehead University
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