News release

Inverness County Non-Profit Donates 50th Tree for Boston

Natural Resources and Renewables

The Tree for Boston, a deeply rooted tradition in Nova Scotia for the last 50 years, is making its trek from Inverness County this year.

The 60-year-old, 48-foot white spruce was donated by landowner L’Arche Cape Breton, a non-profit organization that creates safe, supportive homes and meaningful work for people with disabilities.

“The Tree for Boston has been a symbol of appreciation, friendship and unity for 50 years,” said Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables. “We will never forget the kindness the people of Boston showed Nova Scotia following the tragedy of the Halifax Explosion.”

The tree-cutting ceremony will be held on November 10 on L’Arche Cape Breton’s property in Orangedale, Inverness Co. Members of the L’Arche community will attend to help celebrate the annual tradition.

Due to the pandemic, the Province is partnering with Port of Halifax, container terminal PSA Halifax and transportation company Eimskip Canada to transport the tree on a container vessel. The tree will leave Halifax on November 15 and be delivered to its new home on Boston Common within days.

Quotes:

“The annual tradition of the Tree for Boston is something near and dear to all Nova Scotians. It represents how thankful we are to the people of Boston for being there for us when we needed it most. I am so proud that this year’s tree is coming from Inverness County, donated by an organization that does so much in our community.”

– Allan MacMaster, Deputy Premier and MLA for Inverness

“In response to the explosion in 1917, Boston extended a hand of friendship to Halifax, which was accepted with open arms and returned with an endless thanksgiving through the Tree for Boston. This connects deeply with us in L’Arche. In the service of our mission, we aspire to build the same values of relationship and gratitude every day.”

– Mukthar Limpao, Executive Director and Community Leader, L’Arche Cape Breton

Quick Facts:

  • 2021 marks the 104th anniversary of the Halifax Explosion
  • the Tree for Boston is the province's annual thank you to Boston for sending medical personnel and supplies to Nova Scotia within hours of the Halifax Explosion in 1917
  • the explosion devastated north-end Halifax, killed nearly 2,000 people and left thousands more injured and homeless
  • the first Tree for Boston was donated in 1971 by Joseph Slauenwhite from Lunenburg County
  • the Tree for Boston will reach its destination for an in-person tree lighting ceremony on December 2 at 7 p.m. at the Boston Common

Additional Resources:

Tree for Boston website: https://novascotia.ca/treeforboston/

Tree for Boston on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TreeforBoston

Tree for Boston on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TreeForBoston

Tree for Boston on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/treeforboston

Natural Resources and Renewables on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NS_DNRR

L’Arche Cape Breton: https://www.larchecapebreton.org/

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