Riding the rails with Mother Parker Update

ONTC News Release

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The Northlander which is pulling the Mother Parker Pacific car northbound today is two hours behind schedule due to a track closure in Toronto this morning.

The Northlander should be pulling into North Bay around 3:30 p.m.

Train status updates are available at http://www.ontarionorthland.ca/index.php/en/accordion-b/northlander-train-status

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This year marks Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee’s 100-year anniversary and as part of their centennial celebrations, the company is raising one million dollars for research into finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.

Ontario Northland will be assisting the company by participating in the Mother Parkers Remembers campaign. As part of the fundraising campaign, Mother Parkers’ owners Michael and Paul Higgins Jr. have put their family's historic 1924 rail car, the “PACIFIC”, back into service to help raise awareness of the need for more research into finding a cure for the illness that afflicted their father, Paul Higgins Sr., who led Mother Parkers through periods of significant challenge and growth. The Pacific has historical significance as it was car number four in the train that transported King George VI and the Queen Mother on their famous 1939 tour across North America.

The Pacific will be pulled behind Ontario Northland’s Northlander and Polar Bear Express trains on the following dates:

· Tuesday, July 31, 2012 – Toronto to Cochrane – The Northlander

· Wednesday, August 1, 2012 – Cochrane to Moosonee and return – Polar Bear Express

· Thursday, August 2, 2012 – Cochrane to Toronto – The Northlander

Mother Parkers will be offering the use of this historic rail car as part of their fundraising efforts. For a substantial donation, businesses or individuals will have access to the car and be treated like Kings and Queens with the use of a butler and chef, allowing them to taste delicious food and wines, and of course the very best tea and coffee!

More information about Alzheimer's research, the Mother Parkers Remembers fundraising campaign, and the Pacific rail car can be found at www.motherparkersremembers.com.

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