Nova Scotia Presents Boston With a Tree Plus The Garrett Mason Band To Kick Off The Holiday Season December 4, 2008

Who: The Garrett Mason Band, including bluesmen Garrett Mason, Mike Farrington and Damien Moynihan - all of Nova Scotia

What: Performance at the official city of Boston Christmas Tree Lighting

Where: Boston Common

Why: For the 37th year, Nova Scotia is showing its gratitude to the people of the Greater Boston area for their help in the wake of the 1917 Halifax explosion by donating a Christmas tree. This tree lighting event has come to symbolize the significance of the cross border friendship between Nova Scotia and Massachusetts.

Admission: Free and open to the public

For more information about Nova Scotia, visit www.novascotialife.com. For more information about the event, call the Boston Parks and Recreation Department at (617) 635-4505.

About Garrett Mason:
Garrett was born and raised in Truro, Nova Scotia. His father is Canadian blues legend Dutch Mason. Dutch Mason stopped playing guitar before Garrett was born due to crippling arthritis in his hands. Nevertheless, he taught Garrett the structure of the Blues and influenced his sound. In 2005, Garrett’s talent was recognized when he received a Juno for Best Blues Album. Recently, Garrett opened for five-time Grammy Award winner Buddy Guy at the Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival in New Brunswick, Canada. Garrett has also performed at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee and the Blues Festival in Omaha, Nebraska.

The History of the Tree:
91 years ago, a terrible tragedy forever linked the lives of the people of Boston and the citizens of Halifax, Nova Scotia. On December 6, 1917, a French freighter full of munitions and a Norwegian vessel collided in Halifax Harbor causing a nuclear-sized blast and a subsequent tidal wave that leveled the town and killed more than 1,700 people. The citizens of Boston were among the first to arrive in Halifax with a "rescue train" full of medical supplies, blankets and building materials. Much of the money for the aid came from donations made by ordinary citizens. The people of Nova Scotia have never forgotten the speed and generosity with which the residents of Boston responded. In appreciation, Nova Scotia sends a tree to Boston every year to express its thanks for the city’s compassion and to help spread the spirit of the season.

Official Website: http://www.novascotialife.com