A cluster of youngsters in Pemberton has been greeting tourists in their B.C. town for as far back as they can recall. Whenever the Rocky Mountaineer train arrives or departs, these children eagerly await on the platform, exchanging greetings or farewells. Raiden Kawashima, aged 12, developed a passion for trains at a young age and has been welcoming people since he was just a few months old. “I enjoyed being sociable, conversing with others, meeting new people, and getting to know them,” Raiden expressed.
This group of children refers to themselves as the Welcome Committee. Twice a week, every week for six months of the year, they gather at the platform to greet arriving passengers. “It’s a bit early, and it can get chilly sometimes, but it’s enjoyable to be with your friends,” Raiden added. This tradition has endured for over a decade, yet its continuation is now uncertain.
The Rainforest to Gold Rush route of Rocky Mountaineer, which runs from North Vancouver to Jasper, utilizes a rail line operated by CN Railway. CN intends to halt operations on a segment of the rail line between Squamish to 100 Mile House. In a recent statement, Rocky Mountaineer announced that it will not operate the Rainforest to Gold Rush route next year and has not included it in the 2028 schedule. “We would be willing to resume operations on the route if a long-term operator can be secured to maintain the rail line,” mentioned Tristan Armstrong, CEO of Armstrong Collective, the operator of Rocky Mountaineer.
Every member of the committee possesses matching hats and ambassador name cards with photo identification. “I see how content everyone is, and when I miss a day, I feel like I should have been there,” shared 10-year-old Coco Kawashima. Regardless of the weather or the time, these children are always present, awaiting the train with smiles. “We’ve been doing this for many years, so it will feel strange without it,” Coco remarked.
Since 2006, Rocky Mountaineer has welcomed over 250,000 travelers to journey through the region by train. Junko Kawashima, the mother of Coco and Raiden, shared that a visitor from the U.K. took the time to write a letter to her children after meeting them in Pemberton. “It was a delightful surprise. Exposing children to passengers from around the world can help broaden their horizons,” Junko commented. Losing the train and the tradition would significantly impact the community, according to parents like Sabrina McDermott, who mentioned the positive effect the train has had on her son’s social anxiety.
The Welcome Committee began modestly but has expanded alongside the community. “It evolved into a larger committee, functioning like a cohesive team,” Raiden mentioned. Kei Uto, who has been welcoming people since the age of two, travels from Whistler to join the crew. “It’s saddening. It had become a routine, especially since I’ve been doing it for so long. We don’t even get to see each other that often because I’m in Whistler,” Uto expressed. He invited anyone interested to join the committee before the train discontinues its route. “If you want to join us, just come out and greet the train with us.”