 Boston celebrated its century-long friendship with the Canadian province of Nova Scotia on the 2nd of December during its annual tree lighting ceremony This year marks the 50th tree donation from Nova Scotia My great aunt Una was one of the nurses that came from Boston to Nova Scotia on a train to help after the explosion so there's a lot of connection between Nova Scotia Boston and personally from a family perspective too The tree is a donation for Boston's help after the Halifax explosion that killed 2,000 people in 1917 International studies professor Eric Goldstein calls the Nova Scotia tree a quote diplomatic gift gift giving is an old tradition and diplomacy back to ancient times and this one is particularly effective because it's gift giving Remembering humanitarian collaboration to celebrate the tradition Bostonians and Nova Scotians performed on stage Including Nova Scotian R&B artist Keontae Beals. The Nova Scotian tree will remain in Boston's common through to February 2022 From Boston Common for the UTV10, I'm Yumna Sukar