Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 16/12/2014 (2106 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

All aboard the HugTrain!

The train that has crossed the continent for the past six years, lifting people’s spirits with embraces at every stop, pulls into Winnipeg’s Union Station on Thursday at 8:45 p.m. and is in Winnipeg until Sunday night.

WAYNE GLOWACKI / FREE PRESS FILES Last year Arié Moyal, right, gave a hug to Anne Maeder, who was on a business trip from Germany, at Winnipeg's Union Station. Moyal's goal is to raise awareness and funds for the Canadian Mental Health Association and brighten spirits during the holidays.

Arié Moyal, who has been offering free hugs to strangers for the past six years, has been followed by a documentary film crew during this year’s six-week tour that began Dec. 4. He’s also developed a mobile app that encourages embracing for those who can’t get to the station.

"I wanted to capture the spontaneity of the HugTrain experience so that everyday people can receive a hug essentially on demand," Moyal is quoted as saying in a press release.