MATTIE SETTLEMENT — Visitors to the home of Hugh and Liz Ryan during the Christmas season will notice something missing as they turn into their Antigonish County driveway.
A conversation piece that once welcomed them will be providing holiday joy to thousands of people almost 1,200 kilometres away.
The white spruce that has been on their Mill Rd. property since they moved there 30 years ago – now 45ft tall – was recently selected to be the Tree for Boston in 2024.
“It was quite a treat,” Liz told The Journal of finding out that their tree was selected to serve as the annual holiday gift provided to the people of the Massachusetts city, adding that they are “proud” to make the donation.
The Tree for Boston is Nova Scotia’s annual thank-you for the city’s support during the aftermath of the Halifax Explosion on Dec. 6, 1917. Within hours of the blast, which killed nearly 2,000 people and left thousands more injured and homeless, Boston sent medical personnel and supplies to the provincial capital.
“It looks exactly like a Christmas tree,” Liz said of why they thought it was worthy of such recognition, noting its healthiness and “perfect shape.”
She pointed out that she nominated the same tree last year, but it was “a little bit short” – approximately one foot – of the required height of 45 feet outlined in the criteria laid out by the province as part of the selection process.
Ryan mentioned that the white spruce almost came down before it could be chosen as the Tree for Boston; recently, Nova Scotia Power (NSP) indicated that they would have to chop it down because of its proximity to lines. She noted that officials with the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables (DNRR) were able to get a stop-work order.
“It has to look like a Christmas tree,” Sandra Johnston, DNRR manager of outreach and education, said in conversation with The Journal, when outlining the annual selection process.
Along with the aforementioned height requirement, she explained, the winning tree must be green, tapered and dense.
“Anybody can send in a nomination,” she said, noting that DNRR receives 15-20 each year.
A team from the provincial department narrows the field to two hopefuls. When it is down to the final pair, she pointed out, DNRR consults with officials in Boston, who provide their input.
“It is always great,” Johnston said of the response to the call for submissions.
She described a “sense of connection,” when it comes to how Nova Scotians embrace the yearly ritual.
And, as far as the high quality of entries – especially the one that makes the trip to Boston – Johnston said, “It is always a really beautiful tree,” and 2024 is no exception.
After receiving word of DNRR’s decision, Liz shared the good news on Facebook page.
“I have been inundated with messages,” she shared of the response to her post.
The start of the journey for the special gift will start with a tree-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 20, at 10:30 a.m., one that will begin with a smudging ceremony led by Trevor Gould of Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation.
“It is going to be interesting – we are looking forward to it,” Liz said.
The guests for the celebration will include students from some Strait Regional Centre for Education schools.
“It is going to look pretty bare,” she offered of the soon-to-be empty space on their property.
But, Liz added, “We are happy to be able to do it.”
After the tree-cutting ceremony, the Tree for Boston will leave for Boston from Halifax on Sunday, Nov. 24.
Once it arrives – and is placed and adorned for the season – the city will host its annual tree-lighting ceremony on Wednesday, Dec. 4, on historic Boston Common. The television broadcast of the celebration reaches Nova Scotia stations.
Joseph Slauenwhite of Lunenburg County donated the first Tree for Boston.
