A group of youngsters in Pemberton has been greeting visitors to their British Columbia town for as long as they can recall. Whenever the Rocky Mountaineer train arrives or departs, the children eagerly assemble on the platform, either saying hello or waving goodbye. Raiden Kawashima, aged 12, developed an interest in 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 individuals, and getting to know them,” Raiden shared.
The children, who go by the name of the Welcome Committee, wait for the train to arrive and greet people twice a week, every week, for six months of the year. Raiden mentioned, “It can be a bit early, sometimes cold, but it’s enjoyable to be with friends.” This tradition has been ongoing for over a decade, but its continuity is now uncertain.
Rocky Mountaineer’s Rainforest to Gold Rush route, which operates on a rail line managed by CN Railway and connects North Vancouver to Jasper, is facing potential closure. CN intends to discontinue operations on a section of the rail line between Squamish and 100 Mile House.
In a recent statement, Rocky Mountaineer confirmed that it will not run the Rainforest to Gold Rush route next year and has not included it in the schedule for 2028. Tristan Armstrong, CEO of Armstrong Collective, the operator of Rocky Mountaineer, stated, “We would consider resuming the route if a long-term operator can be secured to maintain the rail line.”
All members of the committee sport matching hats and carry ambassador name cards with photo identification. “Seeing how joyful everyone is, when I miss a day, I just feel like I should have been there,” expressed 10-year-old Coco Kawashima. Regardless of the weather or time of day, the children are consistently present, waiting with a smile. “We’ve been doing this for a lot of years, so it’s just going to feel so weird that it’s not going to be here anymore,” Coco remarked.
Since 2006, Rocky Mountaineer has hosted over 250,000 visitors for train journeys through the region. Junko Kawashima, the mother of Coco and Raiden, shared that a visitor from the U.K. even took the time to write a letter to her children after meeting them in Pemberton. “It was a delightful surprise. Exposing kids to passengers from around the world can help broaden their perspectives,” Junko stated.
Losing the train and the tradition would have a significant impact on the community, according to parent Sabrina McDermott, who explained how important the train has been for her son’s social anxiety. The Welcome Committee, which initially started small, has expanded along with the community. “It has evolved into a larger committee, resembling a team working together,” Raiden mentioned.
Kei Uto, who has been greeting people since the age of two, regularly travels from Whistler to join the crew. “It’s sad; it had become a routine for me since I’ve been doing it for a while now. We don’t even get to see each other that often, given I’m in Whistler,” Uto expressed. He invited others to join the committee before the train discontinues the route, saying, “If you wish to come out, just join us in greeting the train.”