Thousands of children from communities throughout Northeastern Ontario and Northwestern Quebec will be able to ride the train to the North Pole for a visit with Santa Claus thanks to a unique and cooperative arrangement between Ontario Northland, the Ontario Northland Benefit Association and three employee unions.

The Cochrane Lions Club will be boarding children to meet Santa on November 26, 2005. Watch for additional information forthcoming in the Cochrane Times-Post. "We're very excited to be able to run the Santa Claus Express this year and offer children throughout the region an opportunity to ride the train and visit with Santa Clause." said Steve Carmichael, president and CEO of Ontario Northland. "I'm very proud of the way the employees of Ontario Northland have rallied around the Santa Claus Express to make sure that it runs this year. It's a testament to our commitment to the communities in which we live."

The Santa Claus Express runs in 13 communities across Northeastern Ontario and Northwestern Quebec, on weekends in November and December and is operated by Ontario Northland in partnership with local community groups and volunteers. To date, 11 of these communities have confirmed their intent to participate again this year. Nearly 5,000 children enjoy their train ride to the North Pole and their visit with Santa Claus each year.

Direct participation by volunteers from the Canadian Auto Workers Union, Local 103 (CAW), the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, Division 723 (TCRC), and the United Transportation Union, Local 1161(UTU), will enable the trains to operate over the entire region, with Ontario Northland having only to incur the expense of the fuel to operate the locomotives.

"The Santa Claus Express is part of the Northern culture and as employees, we're very happy to be able to volunteer our time and provide the resources that will allow Ontario Northland, in partnership with many community groups, to run the train this year," said Phil Koning, president of the Ontario Northland's General Chairpersons Association, representing all of Ontario Northland's unionized employees.

Members from the CAW will maintain and clean the equipment, while the TCRC Locomotive Engineers will operate the locomotives. UTU Conductors will be on board the train, alongside the many community group volunteers, and together they will oversee the safety of the children on the train. the Ontario Northland Benefit Association will underwrite other related costs.