Do you know why Boston receives a tree every year from Nova Scotia? Well, gather around, and let me tell you the story of the Tree for Boston (via Boston Parks & Recreation Department).
Over a hundred years ago, on December 6, 1917, two ships collided in Halifax Harbor, causing a devastating explosion. Boston authorities learned of the disaster by telegraph and quickly organized and dispatched a relief train full of supplies & emergency personnel within a day.
Nova Scotia was so grateful for the kindness and quick response the people of Boston provided that they give the gift of a beautiful Christmas tree each year as a thank you.
Boston’s official 2023 tree is a 40-year-old, 45-foot-tall white spruce donated by Bette Gourley of Stewiacke, N.S., and her family. (Here’s hoping there’s a baby owl in it!)
The annual gift of an evergreen Christmas tree from Nova Scotia is scheduled to arrive by police escort at Boston Common at approximately 11 a.m. on Tuesday, November 21.
This is the 52nd year that a tree has been donated and commemorates 106 years of friendship with Nova Scotia. This recognizes the people of Boston who provided emergency assistance when Halifax, Nova Scotia was devastated by a maritime munitions explosion in the harbor in 1917. The first Tree for Boston was donated in 1971 by Joseph Slauenwhite from Lunenburg County.
Boston Parks Commissioner Ryan Woods, Santa Claus, and local school children will greet the tree at its final destination near the Boston Visitors Center at 139 Tremont Street. The tree will be lit at approximately 7:55 p.m. on Thursday, November 30, as the City of Boston’s Official Tree Lighting is celebrated on Boston Common from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The ceremony will be broadcast live on WCVB Channel 5 starting at 7 p.m.
The annual Tree Lighting on Boston Common is co-sponsored by the Boston Parks and Recreation Department and title sponsor, The Province of Nova Scotia. Amazon serves as the presenting sponsor, Meet Boston is the signature sponsor, Bank of America, JetBlue, Constellation, and the Downtown Boston Business Improvement District are the Community Sponsors, and media sponsors are WCVB Channel 5 and the Boston Globe.
Visit Boston.gov/lights-on-bos for more information and follow our social channels to stay up to date with all the holiday lighting events: @bostonparksdept on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Parks Commissioner Woods, Santa Claus, and local school children will greet the tree at its final destination near the Boston Visitors Center at 139 Tremont Street. The tree will be lit at approximately 7:55 p.m. on Thursday, December 1, as the City of Boston’s Official Tree Lighting is celebrated on Boston Common from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The ceremony will be broadcast live on WCVB Channel 5 starting at 7 p.m.
The annual Tree Lighting on Boston Common is co-sponsored by the Boston Parks and Recreation Department and the title sponsor, The Province of Nova Scotia. Amazon serves as our presenting sponsor, JetBlue is the Community Sponsor, Related Beal serves as Pyrotechnic Sponsor while Bank of America, Constellation, and the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau are supporting the event as key sponsors. Additional support provided by WCVB Channel 5 and the Boston Globe.
Visit novascotia.ca/treeforboston and Boston.gov/Parks for more information on the Tree for Boston, and follow our social channels to stay up to date with all the holiday lighting events: @bostonparksdept on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Maureen Dahill is the editor of Caught in Southie and a lifelong resident of South Boston sometimes mistaken for a yuppie. Co-host of Caught Up, storyteller, lover of red wine and binge watching TV series. Mrs. Peter G. Follow her @MaureenCaught.
Great read on the Halifax explo & fire by Robin MacNeil of PBS fame. Also, took a Canadian to tell the Story of English.