The Ontario Northland Christmas Train is rolling into North Bay this Sunday, December 3rd.
"We are in the seventh year of operation, and it's really just a way for Ontario Northland to give back to all the communities that we serve throughout the north, by spreading a little bit of Christmas spirit. And because we're such a large organization, we have staff throughout the system, so it's a really nice event to be able to mingle with some of the employees we don't get to see very often," said Renee Baker Communications Manager at Ontario Northland.
North Bay is one of 13 stops along the line.
"Last year we went to Rouyn Noranda in Quebec for the first time and this year we'll be stopping in Iroquois Falls for the first time. So we leave North Bay December 3rd and we end in Rouyn Saturday December 16th. We also go all the way to Moosonee and Hearst," said Baker.
For the past three weeks, roughly half a dozen employees have been hard at work in the shop, ensuring the train is in working order and getting it decorated with thousands of Christmas lights.
It's something the employees take great pride in, and as they work on this years event, they're already planning for next year.
"This is my second year, and it's a lot of fun. It gets us all geared up for Christmas. I think this year we've hung somewhere around 10,000 lights." said Anita Rioux, production worker with the Refurbishment Division of the ONR.
"The best part for us is hearing all the cheering and yelling from the kids when the train rolls into town. They say how pretty it is with all the lights, and they get so excited, especially when they get to tour the train and see where Santa stays when he travels to the North Pole. There's a little kitchen, a sleep area, a little living room area and his mailbox."
The ONR works with community partners in every town, offering something unique at each stop.
In North Bay, the local partner is One Kids Place Children's Treatment Centre. It will be identified on the train by its logo, a colourful pinwheel.
"The pinwheel logo to symbolize the vibrancy, innocence and ever-changing nature of youth.The pinwheel is a young and energetic symbol that is full of motion, colour and vibrancy of life, and is meant to serve both as an inspiration and reminder of what it is to be a child," explained Katharine Strang of One Kids Place.
The community partner has prepared a full line-up of family fun.
"We've got some vendors, the North Bay Firefighters will be there roasting marshmallows over a fire barrel, Twiggs is going to be there giving out hot chocolate and selling a few of their goods. We've got a ton of carolers coming from Dream Coat Fantasy Theatre. We're giving out colouring books. You can buy a Beaver Tail. There's all kinds of fun things for families to do," said Jason Corbett, Director of Development and Community Relations for One Kids Place.
Students from two local high schools are also volunteering their time.
"West Ferris is giving out reindeer food and St. Joseph-Scollard Hall is doing photo-ops with some of our mascots in town. So the Battalion mascot Sarge, the Giant Tiger mascot, and the Scollard Hall Bear will all be there, and a young lady dressed as Elsa from Frozen will be coming," said Strang.
Activities start at The Station on Station Road at 5 p.m. The train rolls in at 6 p.m.
Most of the communities along the route, including the one in North Bay, are collecting non-perishable food items for the food bank.
See the complete Christmas Train schedule here.
See a video of last year's Christmas train below.
