Nova Scotia’s annual thank you to the people of Boston lights up the city’s Common today, Dec. 5.
The gift of a Christmas tree is a token of Nova Scotia’s continued gratitude for Boston’s help after the Halifax Explosion on Dec.
6, 1917. This year, the tree is a 15-metre (50-foot) white spruce.
“The holidays are all about giving and we’re very proud that our gift to Boston is at the centre of tonight’s celebration,” said Andrew Younger, Minister responsible for Communications Nova Scotia.
“We will never forget the kindness Bostonians showed to us in 1917, and it is with pride that we dedicate this year’s tree in memory of the victims and survivors of the Boston Marathon bombings.”
Mary Lou Milligan of Mill Cove, Lunenburg Co., graciously donated this year’s Christmas tree.
“Boston’s unique friendship with Nova Scotia and the people of Halifax has been celebrated with this special tree for 42 years,” said Boston’s Mayor Thomas Menino, who is leaving office in January after 20 years of leading the city. “It has always been an annual highlight to share this gift with the people of Boston and our guests from Nova Scotia.
“This year’s lighting celebration will have even more meaning as we remember the events of April 15 and dedicate Boston’s official Christmas tree to those who lost their lives or were injured at the Marathon.”
Mr. Younger also attended an assembly at Mather Elementary School in the Boston neighbourhood of Dorchester this morning. Mather partnered with St. Stephen Elementary in Halifax to learn more about the tree tradition, now in its 42nd year.
Prior to the tree-lighting, Nova Scotian ambassadors including SQUID Precision Drumming and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police will take to the streets encouraging Bostonians to attend the lighting and visit Nova Scotia. They will be given a chance to win a free trip to Nova Scotia on the new Nova Scotia-to-New England Ferry, which will begin sailing in the spring.
The ceremony will take place at 8 p.m. (7 p.m. in Boston) and will be televised to an estimated audience of 300,000 on WCVB Boston Channel 5, an ABC affiliate available in Atlantic Canada on cable.
Nova Scotians are encouraged to follow along from home and catch a play-by-play of the event on social media at, www.facebook.com/treeforboston or on Twitter @TreeForBoston.
Source: Release
