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From YouTube: Halifax Explosion 99th Anniversary Press Event
Description
Mayor Walsh joins Nova Scotia Premier, Stephen McNeil, Halifax Mayor, Mike Savage and Boston Parks and Recreation Commissioner Chris Cook, at Massachusetts General Hospital to mark the 99th anniversary of the Halifax Explosion and to unveil a campaign for the 100th anniversary titled "100 years, 100 stories." For more than 40 years Nova Scotia has given a Christmas tree to the people of Boston in gratitude for the city's assistance and support following the Halifax Explosion in 1917.
A
Thank
you
so
much
for
joining
us
here
in
this
absolutely
gorgeous
facility.
My
name
is
Chris
Cook
I'm,
the
Commissioner
for
Boston,
Parks
and
Recreation
and
I
couldn't
be
more
proud
to
be
here.
Speaking
with
you
folks
and
have
the
honor
of
emceeing
this
event.
Thank
you
for
joining
us.
Thank
you
for
the
hospitality
extended
to
us
by
a
Mass
General
Hospital,
especially
by
dr.
Peter
slavin
I,
want
to
acknowledge
his
leadership
and
his
graciousness
and
hosting
us
today.
A
Today
is
a
day
that
we
celebrate
Nova
Scotia
in
boston,
since
2014
we've
always
used
the
day
of
boston,
commons
official
tree
lighting
to
celebration
of
the
appreciation,
respect
for
the
friendship
shared
between
nova
scotia
in
our
city
and
our
state.
This
friendship
was
strengthened
on
december
six.
Nineteen,
seventeen
when
the
french
cargo
ship,
the
mont
blanc
laden
with
explosives,
collided
with
the
belgian
reef
essel
IMO,
that
collision
took
place
in
halifax
harbour,
causing
the
largest
man-made
explosion
prior
to
the
atomic
bomb
that
explosion
killed,
2,000
people
and
left
thousands,
more
injured
and
or
homeless.
A
Within
hours,
massachusetts
responded
and
specifically
the
doctors
and
nurses
and
volunteers
from
this
hospital
responded.
Relief
and
he
came
swiftly,
doctors,
nurses
and
relief
workers
from
across
Boston
took
care
of
the
wounded
and
help
the
people
of
Halifax
get
back
on
their
feet.
It
seems
fitting
that
we
remind
you
that
the
story
here
today
at
the
Russell
Museum
of
medical
history
and
innovation,
where
we
celebrate
the
contributions
that
Boston
our
state
and
certainly
this
hospital,
have
made
to
the
world
of
health.
A
Our
friends
from
Nova
Scotia
continued
to
thank
us
for
that
kindness
by
sending
a
Christmas
tree
to
our
city
to
enjoy
that
Christmas
tree
is
in
America's.
First
Park,
just
up
the
street
boston
common
tonight,
we'll
celebrate
on
boston
common
with
our
city's
official
tree
lighting
ceremony
and
that's
why
we're
here
today
to
talk
about
our
friendship
and
how
will
be
marking
the
hundredth
anniversary
of
the
Halifax
Explosion
next
year
in
2017
behind
me,
you'll
see
various
images
of
the
Halifax
Explosion,
including
the
devastation
and
aid
that
came
from
Massachusetts.
B
Thank
you
very
much,
it's
wonderful
to
be
here
with
Mayor
Walsh,
with
premier
McNeil,
our
friends
from
the
RCMP,
which
add
so
much
to
the
occasion
for
us.
Ladies
and
gentlemen,
it's
wonderful
to
be
here
in
this
great
institution.
The
history
of
the
Halifax
Explosion
is
known
to
people
who
live
and
grow
up
in
Halifax
and
as
part
of
the
hundredth
anniversary
next
year,
we've
one
of
the
projects
we've
done.
B
If
you've
asked
kids
what
they
know
about
the
Halifax
Explosion,
we
asked
them
what
words
they
identify
with
the
explosion
and,
of
course,
words
like
tragedy
and
death.
Sadness
and
devastation
come
up,
but
so
does
resilience
and
friendship,
and
the
word
Boston,
and
that,
of
course,
is
this
city
of
Boston
that
in
our
time
of
greatest
need
and
the
city
of
halifax,
that
the
people
of
Boston
got
got
the
word
and
were
immediately
helping
our
city,
hundreds
of
nurses.
B
One
is
I,
have
to
get
reelected
and
then
the
other
is.
He
has
to
get
reelected.
So
I
took
care
of
mine
a
couple
of
weeks
ago
and
I've
been
following
the
numbers
here,
I've
been
following
the
numbers
here,
Marty
I
know
you're
going
to
come
to
Halifax
I
hope
you
come
next
year.
I
know
your
schedule
is
pretty
crazy,
but
we're
very
excited.
B
It's
a
great
thing
when
you
think
about
2,000
people
killed
an
eight
or
nine
thousand
injured
in
a
city
that
was
50,000
people
you're
talking
over
twenty
percent
of
the
entire
population
and
in
some
neighborhoods
and
in
some
families
people
were
wiped
out
and
we
commemorate
it
every
year,
we're
putting
a
lot
into
this
hundredth
anniversary.
Unfortunately,
in
the
last
few
years
we've
seen
the
last
survivors
passed
away,
mrs.
mary
murphy
passed
away
a
couple
of
years
ago,
mr.
B
sim,
and
we
don't
have
people
left
to
remember
it
firsthand,
but
it
has
left
an
indelible
mark
in
Halifax,
not
only
because
of
the
sadness
but
because
of
the
resilience
and
the
friendship
that
grew
out
of
that.
That
strengthened
out
of
that
makes
a
big
difference
to
the
people
of
Halifax
dunno.
The
premier
would
say
the
same
with
the
entire
province
of
Nova
Scotia.
This
is
an
important
tradition
for
us.
It's
one
of
the
most
important
relationships.
B
A
Thank
you
so
much
mayor
I
had
the
the
great
honor
this
year
to
actually
be
up
for
the
the
send-off
of
the
tree
in
the
ceremony
and
to
see
the
the
streets
literally
lined
with
hundreds
of
school
children
waving
goodbye
to
the
trees,
such
an
expression,
expression
of
friendship
between
two
countries.
It
was
really
wonderful
in
Halifax
itself
is
a
beautiful
city.
So
thank
you
very
much
for
your
hospitality.
Don't
worry.
A
Mary
didn't
spend
too
much
money,
while
I
was
up
there
that
the
next
speaker
is
someone
who's
who's,
no
stranger
to
this
institution
to
this
hospital
and
certainly
no
stranger
to
parks
and
open
space
and
expanding
horizons
of
Boston
on
the
world
stage.
Ladies
and
gentlemen,
the
mayor,
Boston
Martin,
J
Walsh,.
C
Thank
you
very
much
Chris,
and
and
thank
you
for
representing
City
of
Boston
in
Halifax,
that
to
see
see
the
tree
come
come
to
Boston,
miss
Savage
and
premium
McNeil.
Thank
you
very
much
for
being
in
a
beautiful
city
again
and
I
want
to
thank
you
and
all
the
people
of
Halifax
Nova
Scotia
for
the
generosity
every
single
year.
It
truly
does
me
enough.
A
lot
tonight
is
a
special
night
I'll
get
into
that
in
a
minute.
I
also
want
to
thank
dr.
C
Peter
slavin
from
Mass
General
Hospital,
who
I
introduced
downstairs
to
the
mayor,
as
he
walked
in
say
in
expressing
that
the
hospital
that
we're
in
has
been
rate
of
the
number
one
hospital
united
states
of
america,
in
which
I
would
say
that
number
one
hospital
in
the
world,
and
I
want
to
thank
them
for
everything
they
do
for
our
city,
not
just
by
providing
unbelievable
health
care,
but
by
being
involved
in
so
many
different
in
different
areas,
and
particularly
around
the
opioid
crisis.
Mass
General
has
done
some
incredible
things.
C
For
the
last
45
years,
the
boston
common
tree
lighting
has
been
going
on
and
the
centerpiece
of
that
tree
lighting
is
the
beautiful
tree
that
comes
down
and
that
tradition
continues
this
year
as
we
as
we
talk
about
the
natural
beauty
of
your
province.
I
want
to
thank
you
for
your
generosity
in
your
many
years
of
friendship
between
boston
nova
scotia,
particularly,
I
think
this
year
alone
it
marks
a
little
bit
more.
It's
important
for
us
to
remember
this.
C
The
strong
bonds
that
we
have
as
cities
in
his
country's
this
coming
tuesday
will
mark
the
1990s
since
the
explosion,
one
of
the
world's
worst
man-made
disasters
of
all
time.
It
was
already
the
mayor
already
mentioned
that
it
was
killed
or
injured.
More
than
11,000
people
in
the
city,
boston
was
there
to
deploy,
help
right
away.
In
2013,
we
experienced
a
tragedy
in
our
city
and
prayers
and
concerns
from
all
around
the
world,
including
including
nova.
C
So
when
you
think
about
the
people
that
time
with
their
mind
with
a
thought
process
was,
it
was
immediately
saying
thank
you
amidst
all
that
chaos
and
sorrow
the
people
who
nova
scotia
is
still
made
a
point
to
bring
up
the
holidays
for
the
people
of
Boston
and
that
that
says
an
awful
lot
about
the
people
of
nova
scotia.
That
says
an
awful
lot
about
the
people
of
that
town.
C
That,
even
though,
in
the
midst
of
tragedy
the
mayor
said,
everybody
knew
somebody
in
that
town
who
either
lost
their
life
was
severely
injured
in
that
time,
but
they
still
had
the
thought
process
to.
Let's
thank
the
City
of
Boston,
so
we
had
grateful
for
the
generosity
back
then,
and
we're
also
grateful
of
generosity.
Today,
in
every
single
every
single
year,
the
people
of
nova
scotia
would
not
would
not
be
defined
by
by
the
pain
of
losing
so
many
people
that
day
they
show
the
resilience
they
endured.
C
They
celebrated
beautiful
traditions
like
the
one
that
we're
celebrating
today,
and
I
think
that
that's
very,
very
important
for
us
as
we
move
forward.
This
tradition
strengthens
the
connection
between
our
city
and
I
did
say
to
the
mayor.
I
said
that
we
joked
about
our
elections,
but
I
do
plan
on
going
to
Nova
Scotia
I
do
plan
on
going
for
the
for
the
anniversary
to
say
thank
you
to
the
people
in
nova
scotia
for
the
many
many
years
of
generosity
and
for
the
many
years
of
providing
just
happiness
at
this
event.
C
Tonight
we're
going
to
see
a
lot
of
people
there
tonight
they
go
back.
This
is
their
family
tradition.
This
is
their
tradition
being
part
of
this
special
day.
So
not
only
was
that
is
the
tree.
It
was
symbolic,
thank
you,
but
it's
turned
into
a
celebration
for
so
many
generations
of
families
that
come
in
and
enjoy
boston
common
tonight
spend
time
with
their
family
and
able
to
celebrate
this
exciting
night.
This
year
the
tree
came
from
crepe
Kate
Britain,
it
traveled
more
than
1,300
kilometers.
C
That's
800
miles
for
us
Bostonians
that
we
like
to
talk
about
it's.
The
first
time
will
gather
around
a
tree
from
that
beautiful
island
I'm,
happy
to
build
upon
the
great
holiday
tradition,
I'm
glad
that
the
Nova
Scotians
watched
from
home
will
get
a
chance
to
see
Boston
spirit.
I
want
to
thank
you
and
everyone
who
made
this
possible,
including
the
Nova
Scotia
department
of
natural
resources,
in
particular
crown
Island,
and
then
many
individuals
will
helped
this
tree
on
its
long
journey.
C
South
I
look
forward
to
seeing
everyone
tonight
and
I
truly
am
grateful
for
it
now.
This
is
truly
one
of
one
of
the
one
of
the
good
moments.
The
only
problem
is
when
I,
when
I
was
thinking
today,
I
was
getting
dressed
and
I
said
to
myself.
I
need
to
wear
something
festive
so
I
put
on
my
hockey
skates
and
the
problem
was,
the
tie
is
red
and
the
Boston
Bruins
don't
have
read
in
their
color.
So
this
this
is
not
a
montreal
canadiens
hi.
This
is
a
neutral
hockey
tag.
A
So
if
you
have
the
opportunity
to
visit,
you
really
should
part
of
that
stewardship
is
the
clear
leadership
of
the
government
and
premier.
You
have
an
excellent
team,
whether
it's
buddy
or
Stacey,
and
everyone
else,
that's
working
behind
you.
They
do
terrific
work
and
we're
very,
very
grateful
for
the
stewards
that
you
have
in
this
place
of
in
serves
passable
beauty.
The
leadership
at
the
top
has
been
extraordinary
and
cultivating
this
relationship.
So
it
gives
me
great
pleasure
to
introduce
you.
The
premier
of
Nova
Scotia,
has
Stephen
McNeil.
D
Thank
you
very
much.
Chris
I
often
say
what
buddy
I
am
very
fortunate
to
have
so
many
great
people
who
represent
our
province-
and
you
mentioned
buddy
and
say
see,
there's
a
number
of
people
here
who
do
a
tremendous
job
and
who,
day
in
and
day
out,
are
actually
providing
services
to
the
people
of
nova
scotia.
So,
on
behalf
of
all
of
us,
you'll
take
back
to
your
colleagues
in
the
public
service
art
of
our
gratitude
for
the
work
that
you
do
each
and
every
day,
our
savage.
D
It's
always
great
to
be
with
you
especially
great
to
be
here
at
the
support,
another
Montreal
Canadian
fan
and
no
matter
and
no
matter
what
the
no
matter.
What
the
mayor
says,
that's
a
bunch
of
all
Canadian
time,
mayor
Walsh.
We
would
be
grateful.
We
would
certainly
welcome
you
back
into
nova
scotia,
as
we
launch
tree
to
celebrate
100th
anniversary
of
the
way
Bostonians
responded
to
nova
scotia
in
a
time
of
really
our
darkest
need.
D
It
is
I
must
tell
you,
as
I
get
a
chance
to
last
few
years,
I've
met
the
treating
the
outskirts
of
Halifax
I've
come
in,
and
Chris
was
with
us
when
we
stopped
at
st.
Stephen's
school
in
the
north
end,
which
really
was
in
the
center
of
the
devastation
and
to
watch
those
kids
be
excited
about
the
tree
coming
through
and
understanding
the
meaning
of.
Why
it's
so
important.
D
All
this
time,
all
these
many
years
later,
to
continue
to
express
our
gratitude
and
to
say
thanks
to
the
people
of
Boston,
for
the
tremendous
work
that
they
did
on
our
behalf
next
year
will
be
our
hundredth
anniversary,
more
excited
to
do
all
kinds
of
exciting
things,
but
I
must
say
when
I
came
in
and
I
wat
saw.
This
and
I
saw
the
explosion
so
powerful
to
stop
time.
It
really
did.
D
But
it
also
was
a
time
that,
even
though
there
was
so
much
devastation,
there
are
a
tremendous
number
of
stories
of
human
spirit
of
goodwill
that
are
part
of
this
story
and
we're
excited
to
be
able
to
begin
next
year
to
tell
them-
and
it's
called
a
hundred
years
and
a
hundred
stories
to
mark
that
there
are
a
number
of
them
that
will
come
out
of
Nova
Scotian.
It's
our
hope.
D
Some
of
those
stories
will
come
from
here
in
the
way
to
be
able
to
follow
the
track,
quite
frankly,
of
the
good
people
of
Boston,
the
medical
staff,
medical
supplies
that
left
here
and
came
to
our
aid
through
the
rail
line,
which
is
quite
interesting
because
one
of
the
great
stories
in
Canada
is
about
Vincent
Coleman.
Who
was
a
telegraph
journal
at
the
Canadian
government
railway
and
time
they
were
all
being
evacuated.
But
he
remembered
that
there
were
trains
coming
down
into
the
city
and
he
had
to
notify
those
trains.
D
D
They
welcome
to
our
ancestors
400-plus
years
ago
in
Port
Royal,
and
they
greeted
us
by
member
2
and
greeted
us
with
peace
and
friendship,
and
we
are
often
we
are
on
traditional
Big
Ma
territory,
all
of
Nova
Scotia
maternal
Grove
was
not
was
a
community.
It
was
on
the
darkman
side
where
the
mayor
lives
and,
and
it
was
devastated
and
that
community
was
never
rebuilt.
D
Now
millbrook
near
Truro
is
looking
to
to
begin
to
rebuild
that
community
again
to
put
back
our
big
ma
footprint
on
our
Harbor
there's
tremendous
number
of
activity
and
stories
that
are
happening
in
building
out
of
this
and
we're
excited
to
be
able
to
start
doing
that
next
year
to
really
retell
our
story,
not
just
about
the
devastation
that
happened,
and
we
know
so
many
families
were
touched.
The
north
end
was
devastated.
The
north
end
lost
so
many
people
or
some
cases,
entire
families.
D
Now
the
case
is
one
survivor
of
a
family
or
some
children
were
off
and
it
survived.
Others
didn't,
but
out
of
that,
there
was
also,
as
I
said,
these
other
stories,
and
we
need
to
tell
those
continue
to
tell
those
to
the
next
generation
of
Nova
Scotians,
who
will
continue
to
respond
and
bring
our
tree
here.
This
is
a
great
tradition
for
Nova
Scotia.
It's
an
opportunity
for
us
to
say
thanks
to
the
people
of
Boston,
it's
also
an
opportunity
for
us
to
build
on
what
is
our
ancestral
connections?
D
A
D
Office
is
a
nova
scotia,
much
of
that
export
comes
down
in
the
New
England
states.
My
way
in
today,
our
yesterday
I
was
meeting
on
the
plane
and
family
get
on
today
were
coming
down
to
visit
relatives
when
I
get
off
the
plane.
At
the
airport
there
was
a
family
going
home
to
Nova
Scotia,
who
had
been
here
visiting
relatives.
D
The
connection
between
us
runs
deep,
it's
one
of
gratitude
and
thanks,
but
it's
also
building
on
a
legacy
and
tradition
of
supporting
and
helping
one
another
when
we
needed
to
have,
but
also
celebrating
and
working
together
for
the
betterment
of
our
respective
communities
and
respective
states
and
provinces
and
I
want
to
say
to
you
mayor
Walsh.
Thank
you.
I'm
looking
forward
to
your
re-election,
I,
don't
get
a
vote.
D
I
know,
but
I
I
really
want
to
say
thank
you
to
the
way
that
you
and
the
mayor
savage,
have
continued
to
work
together,
not
just
on
this
tradition,
which
is
an
important
one,
but
on
the
economic
Commerce
back
and
forth,
we
remember
educational
institutions
that
are
in
across
our
province
working
here
yesterday
we
announced
an
MoU
with
the
CIE
around
innovation,
with
our
Cove
partnership.
All
of
those
are
positive
and
continuing
to
build
on
that.
So
thank
you.
D
But
next
year
is
a
year
celebration
next
year's
a
year
to
celebrate
the
people
of
Boston
and
to
celebrate
the
human
spirit
that
not
only
did
they
face
this
tragedy
with
our
friends
and
support,
but
that
we
survived
and
rebuilt
and
built
on
it
so
mayor
on
behalf
of
the
good
people
of
nova
scotia,
I
want
to
present
you
with
a
little
token
of
our
appreciation.
It
is
a
beautiful
piece
of
Nova
Scotia
crystal
you
can
take
that
home
to
your
wife
or
you
can
keep
it
yourself
and
they.
C
A
Thank
you
so
much
premier
and
Mayor.
We
encourage
all
you
to
visit
the
website
a
hundred
years,
a
hundred
stories
CA
to
learn
more
about
the
tradition
and
the
aid
our
people
provided
so
many
years
ago.
You'll
also
find
details
about
upcoming
events
and
special
monuments
and
in
the
coming
year,
will
be
working
with
the
province
on
marking
the
hundredth
anniversary.
Thank
you
for
being
here
this
morning.
At
this
time,
I'll
ask
the
two
mayor's
in
the
premier
to
join
the
Royal
Canadian
Mounted
Police.