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if you thought montreal couldn't get any more embarrassing, this is the tree we have downtown to compete with ny's rockafeller centre tree pic.twitter.com/TrPFPyadDt — cassandra c! (@cassthemonster) December 3, 2016

Way to go, Montreal.

But before we get on our high reindeer, how do Ottawa’s offerings compare?

If Santa can spend his entire year evaluating the actions of almost seven billion people, grant us the freedom to be judge, jury and arborist this one time.

#8 Parliament Hill

Photo by Tony Caldwell / Postmedia Network

Not bad. Nice bold colours, some elegant lighting an… wait a minute that’s not even a tree – it’s a pillar! Sorry Parliament Hill, but the fact that this isn’t actually a tree results in an automatic disqualification.

#7 Bayshore Drive

Photo by Tony Caldwell / Postmedia Network

This is more like it. Making up for Parliament Hill’s cement sapling are three voluminous trees in one sublime entry. The green, white and blue colours are classic but lack any overall theme, symmetry or pop. Dont’ get us wrong, these are good-looking trees and they’re in a nice, tight formation. But we’re looking for quality, not quantity.

#6 Rooftop Tree

Photo by Tony Caldwell / Postmedia Network

It’s hard to tell from this distance but this doesn’t look like a real tree either. BUT it gets major points for trying to leapfrog everyone else on height by placing itself on the top of a building.

#5 City Hall

Photo by Tony Caldwell / Postmedia Network

This tree is… decent. Great size, fantastic volume but lighting and overall festiveness is average. We’re also subtracting points for the flag poles. Not the trees fault but setting is of utmost importance if you want a high ranking on this list.

#4 Riverdale

Photo by Tony Caldwell / Postmedia Network

What a beautiful mess of a tree. First of all it’s MASSIVE. It’s one of the biggest trees we’ve ever seen. How did they even get those lights that high? This tree scores major points for height, volume and effort. Unfortunately, sheer force of will won’t put this one on the podium.