We in the Boston area have some history behind this. We get a beautiful Christmas tree sent to us every year from Nova Scotia, and they display it at the Prudential Center:
On December 6, 1917 at 9:04:35 am, the Halifax Explosion severely destroyed much of the city, by the largest man-made explosion up to that time. Boston authorities learned of the disaster by telegraph, and quickly organized and dispatched a relief train around 10 pm to assist survivors. A blizzard delayed the train, which finally arrived in the early morning of December 8, and immediately began distributing food, water, and medical supplies. Numerous personnel on the train were able to relieve the Nova Scotia medical staff, most of whom had worked without rest since the explosion occurred. Nova Scotian children study the explosion in school and they know “Boston was one of the first responders, and really a lifesaver.”
Nova Scotia donated a large Christmas tree to the city of Boston in thanks and remembrance for the help Boston Red Cross and the Massachusetts Public Safety Committee provided immediately after the Halifax Explosion of 1917. Another tree was sent in 1971, and every year since.
The annual gift was started by the Lunenburg County Christmas Tree Producers Association to promote Christmas tree exports as well as acknowledge the Boston support after the explosion. The gift was taken over by the Nova Scotia Government in 1976 to continue the goodwill gesture and to promote trade and tourism.
In 2017, in honor of the 100th anniversary of the explosion, Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh, Halifax Mayor Michael Savage, and Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil unveiled a plaque on the Boston Common near the site of the tree. The tree that year was donated in honor of first responders in the two cities.
It is so important to the people of Nova Scotia that “people have cried over it, argued about it, even penned song lyrics in its honour.”[3] Joseph Slauenwhite donated the first two trees. The tree typically comes from the southern half of the province, but in 2014 the tree came from Antigonish County, in the north and in 2016 the first tree ever from Cape Breton Island was selected.
The Canadian Maritime provinces, New Brunswick, PEI, and Nova Scotia had many of their citizenry in that era migrate to Massachusetts, RI and CT for factory jobs. They were not illegals, but encouraged by companies in the New England area looking for workers. Many stayed, others returned, my point, there was a great deal of cross border activity. The Maritime provinces of Canada related more closely to New England than they did to the rest of Canada.
Yes, would one credit one's senses ( I still have some). This of the Canadian mainstream media. They have got hold of many photographs and indeed showing the belated monuments to the dead. They have praised Boston lavishly.
Perhaps there is no way they can vilify President Trump over the explosion. Still on they go, ad nauseum every day. They are obsessed. I do believe the average working class Canadian lets it go over their heads. They scurry down to Hortons coffee shop to discuss the latest weather. Here in Ontario it just got a winter wonderland - or whatever curse some might use. Lots of it.