Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, dressed in orange safety attire, wielded a chainsaw to slice through a 42-year-old white spruce in Lunenburg County under the supervision of Cape Breton certified tree-felling instructor Waddie Long. Once Long completed the final cuts, a crane hoisted the 13.7-meter spruce onto a flatbed truck for transportation to Boston. This tree will be showcased in Boston Common, recognized as the oldest public park in the United States.
Wu marked the first instance of a Boston mayor attending the annual tree-cutting event in Nova Scotia. She expressed gratitude to the people of Nova Scotia for maintaining a strong friendship and relationship. Nova Scotia presents a tree to Boston annually to acknowledge the assistance Boston provided after the devastating Halifax Explosion of 1917.
Despite concerns stemming from strained U.S.-Canada relations due to punitive tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, Wu believed Nova Scotia might reconsider sending a tree this year. However, after a positive discussion with Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston, Wu reaffirmed the enduring friendship between the regions.
This year’s tree, originally planted by Ronald and Claire Feener over 40 years ago, was a mere 30 centimeters high at the time. A large crowd observed the tree-cutting event, including Susan Calkins, a recent Lunenburg resident who had attended Boston Common’s lighting ceremony numerous times.
Phil Hopfe, Calkins’s partner, emphasized the significance of this year’s tree exchange amid ongoing threats from President Trump. He extended an invitation for New Englanders to consider moving to the Maritimes, praising the region’s beauty and welcoming community.
During the tree-cutting ceremony, the discussion frequently touched on the strained U.S.-Canada relations. Susan Corkum-Greek, MLA for Lunenburg, highlighted the enduring friendship between Nova Scotia and Boston, emphasizing the strength of people over political conflicts.
Mayor Wu emphasized the importance of the friendship between Boston and Nova Scotia, denouncing chaos and cruelty from any government. Waddie Long reinforced the enduring nature of this tradition, assuring Wu that despite current challenges, the gratitude between the regions persists.
The tree will continue its journey to Halifax for the Holiday Parade of Lights on Nov. 15 before heading to Boston for installation at the Common during a lighting ceremony scheduled for Dec. 4.