AINSLIE GLEN: Christmas in Boston will be a little brighter this year due to a Cape Breton first.
“Nova Scotia has been contributing a Christmas tree to the people of Boston for decades,” said Lloyd Hines, Minister of Natural Resources. “It’s a thank you for Boston’s assistance following the Halifax Explosion in 1917. The gift reflects the beauty of our province and our thriving Christmas tree industry.”
Hines made his remarks while visiting Ainslie Glen on Tuesday. He spoke prior to the cutting of a 47-foot tall white spruce that, by the afternoon, was rolling down Trans Canada Highway 105 en route to Boston. It was the first time ever that the tree came from Cape Breton Island.
Since Ainslie Glen is located closely to Waycobah First Nation, Chief Rod Googoo served as a special guest at the tree cutting. He said the Mi’kmaq were happy to be part of the gesture.
“Our ties to the United States go back to a time before the Halifax Explosion, when the United States declared independence and we, the Mi’kmaq, were the first nation to recognize them as an independent country,” he said.
Attending the ceremony with Hines and Googoo were hundreds of kids from the local area, mostly from Waycobah First Nation Elementary School and Whycocomagh Education Centre, but others from as far away as Port Hawkesbury. Hundreds of adults were on hand too, and musical performers included We’koqma’qewiskwa, a drum group from the Waycobah First Nation, and Kenneth MacKenzie, a fiddler and bag piper.
Television personality Cindy Day served as the master of ceremonies, and Santa Claus was also sighted.
However, an argument could be made that the most important guest was Dan Nightingale, a faculty member from the Nova Scotia Community College who was representing the Natural Resources program at the Strait Area Campus. He was the man with the chainsaw.
It was the second time Nightingale cut down the tree that served as the province’s gift to Boston. He also manned the chainsaw two years ago in Antigonish.
“The first time was a really big honour, but to be cutting the first one coming from Cape Breton with the full Mi’kmaq participation is really special,” he said. “It’s great to see so many people come out.”
Three special presentations were made at the event. In an effort to honour the people responsible for making the gift of the tree possible, Hines handed ceremonial sculptures to Sarah Coombs, the woman whose property boarders the crown land from which the 66-year-old tree was cut; Barb Bryden, who nominated the tree; and Hailey MacDonald who, with her husband Michael, owns property in the area used to accommodate the vehicles during the tree cutting.
“We only moved here in March, and this is one of those things that doesn’t happen very often, so we’re excited to be a part of it,” said MacDonald. “It’s very quiet out here normally.
“Today was a great way to kick off the Christmas season.”
It was the first time that MacDonald had a chance to meet Coombs, as Coombs isn’t a year-round resident. MacDonald is from Truro, and her husband is from Mabou.
“Barb was the one who picked the tree out, and she did a great job,” MacDonald explained.
Coombs said she was happy to be part of the annual tradition.
“It’s just terrific,” she said. “I watch the tree lighting every year.”
After the ceremony, the tree made brief stops at Tamarac Elementary School in Port Hawkesbury and East Antigonish Education Centre/Academy in Monastery before continuing on to Halifax.
The following day, the tree was given an official send-off. Attending that event was Boston Parks Commissioner Chris Cook. Also attending were the We’koqma’qewiskwa drummers and Nova Scotia band the Town Heroes.
“We are pleased to be representing the people of Boston as the tree departs while experiencing firsthand the warmth of our friends in Nova Scotia, the beauty of their province, and the culture of the Waycobah First Nations people,” Cook added.
For more on Boston’s Christmas tree, see the November 23 edition of The Reporter.