Twig the Elf finds a home in Nova Scotia's balsam fir Christmas tree capital

A community trail lined with Christmas trees on the South Shorehas a live-in caretaker hidden among the balsam firs.

Twig the Elf hasfound a home along Ruby's Trail on Forties Roadin New Ross.

The character was created by the Christmas Tree Council of Nova Scotia, an umbrella group representing growers across the province, first appearing in a cartoon video in 2021.

The story is that Twig was selected by Santa Claus to maintain the magic of balsam fir trees in the province.

Meet the elf that lives to protect Nova Scotias famed balsam fir Christmas trees

10 months ago

Duration 2:39

A community in the Balsam Fir Christmas Tree capital has named a mascot for the 30th annual New Ross Christmas Festival.

Judy O'Leary, chair of the New Ross Christmas Festival committee, said the plan this year wasto incorporate Twig intothe 30th annual event.

The community is located inLunenburg County, which bills itself asthe balsam fir Christmas tree capital of the world.

"The Christmas Tree Council was 100 per cent supportive and gave us copyright to use Twig and his name and likeness," she said.

Twig was made into a three-foot-tall stuffed elf with blue eyesby a faculty member withthecostume studies programat Dalhousie University in time for this year's festivities,O'Leary said.

Twig's chalet

Wanda Gates-Murphyand her husband, Marty, were happy to have a home for Twig on their property. She also helped build the elf-sized chalet, which the public can visitusing the trail behind the local Royal Canadian Legion.

"Once I saw the cartoon of Twig, and it hit my heart, and I wanted to make this as close to what it was as possible," she said.

Inside the chalet there is a bookshelf and a fireplace with Twig's awards on the mantle. There is also an elf-sized rocking chair, a Christmas treeand a pair of skis.

Gates-Murphy hopes Twig's presence on Ruby's Trail can spark joy. She said the path through the family Christmas tree lot and a lookout with a view of New Ross was created in memory of her late grandchild Ruby Webber.

"I had to do something with my pain and make something positive out of it," she said.

"It's our way of giving back," said Gates-Murphy who highlighted the support the family received from the community during Ruby's sickness.

The past seven years have been difficult,she said, particularly after losinga second grandchild.

Ruby was eight months old when she succumbed to a very rare genetic disorder, and her younger sister died within hours of birth.

"I do have a grandson now, and he gets to see what his nanny is doing now," Gates-Murphy said."He's going toget to enjoy this when he gets a little older."

Altogether, O'Leary estimates Twig and his home cost between $1,200 to $1,500, which was paid for by the New Ross Regional Development Association. She said manypeopleand businesses in the community supported the initiative through donations, or by donating their time or materials.