BOSTON CHRISTMAS TREE CUT IN FOX POINT,NOVA SCOTIA

The banner tells the story on Oct. 3'rd.

The large white spruce in all it's glory on Oct. 3'rd.

The 50 foot tall white spruce is bundled up and ready ready to be felled.


Principal Miles Page of Aspotogan Consolidated Elementary School organizes his students to watch the event.

Sergeant Mark Furey of the RCMP Lunenburg Detachment does traffic duty so the kids can cross safely.

Global's Nicole Weisberg interviews Beryl Langley who at 97 years of age can still remember hearing the sound of the Halifax explosion in her home village of Seal Harbour,250 miles down the coast in Guysborough County.

Tree owners Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Shatford receive a commemorative certificate from the Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources, John MacDonell.

Chester-St. Margaret's MLA Denise Peterson-Rafuse delivers her remarks to the spectators as Constable Nick Baker looks on.

Municipality of Chester Warden Allen Webber greets the crowd.

Author and "Nova Scotia Know It All" Bruce Nunn reads from his book, Buddy The Bluenose Reindeer.

Chester's Town Crier,Gary Zwicker is interviewed by Progress Enterprise reporter Adam Jacobs.

Above: Const. Brian Swallow watches traffic from the west while his Sergeant, Paul Coughlan takes care of things to the east.



SeaLand Industries' boom truck hooks on to the tree.


NSCC Bridgewater campus Forestry instructor Andrew Ross makes the first cut.

Cookie cutter. A few sections (called cookies) are cut from the tree for souvenirs.

Deputy Warden Floyd Shatford holds a cookie as he stands on the stump of the tree that once graced his yard.

DOT Vehicle Compliance technician Cody Stevens supervises the loading of the great tree on a DOT flatbed truck.

Global TV's Nicole Weisberg wraps up the story.

Nov. 16'th,Fox Point--------------------In 1918,the city of Halifax sent a Christmas tree to the city of Boston as a gesture of thanks for the relief and supplies that the Boston Red Cross and the Massachusetts Public Safety Committee sent to Halifax immediately following the disaster of the Halifax Explosion. In 1971, the tradition was started again by the N.S. Christmas Tree Grower's Association and eventually taken over by the Provincial Government.

This year's tree was provided through the courtesy of Floyd and Elaine Shatford of Fox Point,Nova Scotia. The majestic 50 foot white spruce is about 55 years old and Department of Natural Resources employee Ross Pentz had his eye on the Shatford's tree as this year's prime candidate for the gift to Boston.
It was a warm and beautiful sunny day as about 200 students from nearby Aspotogan Consolidated Elementary School and over 100 adults gathered to witness the event. There were also a considerable number of politicians,police officers,Natural Resources and Tourism Nova Scotia staff and forestry students on hand to carry out the duties of the job.

From picking out the tree to finally loading it on the truck bound for Boston takes about 50 man hours of work. The tree is scheduled to arrive in Boston on Friday morning. Chester's Town Crier Gary Zwicker will be off to Boston for the festivities. Floyd and his wife also plan to head down to Boston for the December 3'rd lighting of the tree.

Merry Christmas and Thank-You,Boston.