In celebration of Earth Day, VIA Rail Canada is proud to announce its ongoing dedication to reducing the environmental impact of intercity transportation.
To read more about how our carbon-footprint is diminishing every year, have a look at today’s Media Release. For a more visual view, here are a few fun and informative graphics about VIA Rail that will give you a sense of why taking the train is good for everyone!
HAPPY EARTH DAY!
The first steam train arrived in Smithers on September 3, 1914
On April 8th, in Smithers, British Columbia, VIA Rail participated in an anniversary celebration of “the first train to steam through” their town in 1914 – 99 years ago. The event was hosted by Doug Donaldson, MLA (Member of Legislative Assembly) for the riding of Stikine, and by the Bulkley Valley Museum. With every anniversary, including Canada’s 150th and VIA Rail’s 40th both coming up in 2017, we are reminded of the role the train has played in connecting our country. How many transportation industries can boast being around for over a century? And how many can say they helped to build a country?
The town of Smithers itself can thank the Grand Trunk Pacific railway for its existence, by virtue of the fact that they created a divisional point in the place where Smithers now stands. To think about the influence placing a train stop had in founding Canada’s landscape is astounding… and nearly a century later, many remote communities still rely heavily on VIA’s service, and we’re glad to be able to offer it and support them.
Congrats Smithers, we’re proud our industry played a part in the creating of your town and that it has grown to celebrate its 99th year. Here’s to your centennial!
Large turnout for the centennial event for Smithers’ first steam train
MLA Doug Donaldson and VIA’s Mitch Mcammond with prizewinners
Partnering with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, with whom we have collaborated on several occasions (including our most recent on-board entertainment announcement), as well as Community Foundations of Canada, VIA Rail is playing a key role in the CANADA 150/2017 STARTS NOW conference series. On April 5th, in Vancouver, we will launch the first in the series of conferences travelling across Canada and culminating in Ottawa on June 27th.
These conferences, which have been designed to “inform, inspire and incubate” local and regional projects so as to mark the historic milestone, will be kicked off in Vancouver by speakers ranging from actor Adam Beach to environmental activist Tzeporah Berman.
Getting inspired is easy: follow the #Canada150 hashtag on Twitter or hop online to watch videos and be a part to the action at www.2017startsnow.ca. The website will also launch on April 5th.
Information about each event and the cities in which they are taking place can be found on the website as well.
Trains helped to build and grow our country, and VIA Rail has been a part of this history, connecting people across Canada for almost 40 years. As a part of the very fabric of Canada, VIA Rail is excited to be a part of this national tour. We can’t wait to see what transpires from these forums, which are giving Canadians an opportunity to leverage new ways to connect to national initiatives.
…and at VIA Rail, we’re all about connecting people to what matters. We’re part of your future!
On March 11th, VIA Rail had the pleasure of hosting a press conference announcing the upcoming launch of our On-Board Entertainment system.
We are proud to be innovators in this field; only a small handful of other countries can boast having a train with an on-board entertainment platform. We are equally proud to be working with our partners: CBC / Radio-Canada, the NFB and Historica-Dominion, who offer the very best in Canadian programming.
Click on the link above to get a sneak-peek at the amazing shows you’re going to have access to this summer…
Just another way VIA Rail will make your next train trip a more enjoyable, more relaxing and more connected one.
