Boston Christmas Tree

Nova Scotia's 35-year-old tradition of presenting a giant evergreen tree to the people of Boston continues. Each Christmas since 1971, Nova Scotia shows its appreciation for the emergency assistance the people of Boston provided to the region following the Halifax Explosion on Dec. 6, 1917.

This year, the tree is a 12-metre (40-foot) white spruce tree provided by Alan Broome of New Ross, Lunenburg Co.

The tree is scheduled to be cut at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 14. Andrew Ross, a forestry instructor with the Nova Scotia Community College, will cut the tree and his students will assist with the loading. The Department of Transportation and Public Works will transport the tree from the Broome property to its final destination in Boston, where it will serve as the focal point for the annual tree-lighting ceremony at the Boston Common on Thursday, Nov. 30.

The Department of Natural Resources co-ordinates all activities relating to the selection, acquisition, wrapping and loading of the tree.

The Boston Christmas tree usually comes from a private land owner and is selected by the Department of Natural Resources. It must be balsam fir, white spruce, or red spruce, 12 to 16 metres (40-50 feet) in height, healthy with good colour, uniform, symmetrical and easy to access.