The province is still, slowly, getting #BackToNormal and so are we. After a two-year hiatus from ranking the Christmas Trees at Queen's Park, we're back at it.
In 2019, <a href="https://www.qpbriefing.com/2019/12/17/ranking-the-leaders-2019-queens-park-christmas-trees/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">we graded the party leaders' trees</a>. This year, we've gone all out — putting each tree in the Pink Palace in its rightful place.
Someone had to.
12. Queen's Park's Worst Tree: The Broadcast and Recording Service tree
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It wasn't even close. This thing is fully dead, with no decorations to speak of. Its brown needles litter the floor in a macabre display of neglect and shame. It's jammed into a corner deep in the fourth floor (which is mostly full of disgusting journalists) next to a water cooler. And to top it off, there's an empty cardboard box underneath — a rather on-the-nose metaphor for a Christmas bereft of joy.
11. The Official Opposition's tree
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-414953" src="https://www.qpbriefing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2052-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="2560" srcset="https://old.qpbriefing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2052-scaled.jpg 1920w, https://old.qpbriefing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2052-300x400.jpg 300w, https://old.qpbriefing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2052-843x1124.jpg 843w, https://old.qpbriefing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2052-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://old.qpbriefing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2052-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://old.qpbriefing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2052-1536x2048.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" />
Yes, it has NDP MPPs' faces on baubles. But it's pretty lifeless. There's no angel or star at the top, no lights — and what I believe is a literal trash bag at the bottom. Here's hoping Marit Stiles can remedy this problem when she officially takes over.
9-10. (Tie) The main floor guys

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These are the first trees you see when you walk through the main doors of Queen's Park, and they do a perfectly serviceable job of establishing a baseline of Christmas cheer. They're not bad at all — any home would be lucky to have one as its centrepiece. But in a space as cavernous as the main lobby, they're not much more than periphery friffery.
7-8. (Tie) The medium guys

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Leading up the main stairs are two sets of trees in increasing sizes to draw your attention to the show-stopper on the landing (more on that later). Much like Henrik and Daniel Sedin, these trees are great in their own right, but will never hold individual spots on any list due to their intertwined natures. This pair is almost as good as...
5-6. (Tie) The little guys

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Look how cute!
4. The legislative library tree
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This tree has beautiful vibes. Someone spent time wrapping fake (I think) gifts to put under it, which is a wonderful touch. Maybe it's a little morbid considering how books are made. But it's nice as long as you don't think about it too much.
3. The Friendship Tree
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-414966" src="https://www.qpbriefing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2071-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="2560" srcset="https://old.qpbriefing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2071-scaled.jpg 1920w, https://old.qpbriefing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2071-300x400.jpg 300w, https://old.qpbriefing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2071-843x1124.jpg 843w, https://old.qpbriefing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2071-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://old.qpbriefing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2071-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://old.qpbriefing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2071-1536x2048.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" />
It's important for you to know that the star at the top is always flashing. That alone is good enough for third place. But this "Friendship Tree" is a gift from the Consular Corps Association of Toronto, and is decorated with ornaments representative of "nations from around the world." That's a good look for a tree next to the Speaker's office.
2. The premier's tree
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Now that's what I'm talkin' about. Doug Ford once again went with "bigger is better" and it works beautifully. The gaudy beach-ball-sized baubles are crammed in there nice and tight, and the cacophony of lights and tacky garland complete the vision. Christmas trees should look awful in a fun way.
1.  Queen's Park's Best Tree: The main staircase tree
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-414958" src="https://www.qpbriefing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2057-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="2560" srcset="https://old.qpbriefing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2057-scaled.jpg 1920w, https://old.qpbriefing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2057-300x400.jpg 300w, https://old.qpbriefing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2057-843x1124.jpg 843w, https://old.qpbriefing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2057-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://old.qpbriefing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2057-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://old.qpbriefing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2057-1536x2048.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" />
It's elegant. It's well-appointed. It's huge, imposing and vaguely threatening. It's everything a Christmas tree should be and more. It's the perfect choice for the middle of the main staircase and well-deserving of our number-one spot.
Honourable mention: the lieutenant-governor's wreaths
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-414955" src="https://www.qpbriefing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2053-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="2560" srcset="https://old.qpbriefing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2053-scaled.jpg 1920w, https://old.qpbriefing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2053-300x400.jpg 300w, https://old.qpbriefing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2053-843x1124.jpg 843w, https://old.qpbriefing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2053-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://old.qpbriefing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2053-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://old.qpbriefing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2053-1536x2048.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" />
Very festive!

Ranking the 2022 Queen’s Park Christmas trees

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