Council 02-029 Flag Policy

Richmond, Nova Scotia

This is the exact embedded text of the captured official document. Snapshot df3d852908c8 · verified 2026-06-05 · original document · archived snapshot · unofficial consolidation, the official version is held by the municipal clerk.

Municipality of the County of Richmond Flag Policy Page 1 of 5 Title: Flag Policy Approved by Council Date: May 26, 2026 Policy Review Notification Date: April 28, 2026 Policy Review Date: May 12, 2026 I certify this to be a true copy of the Flag Policy as adopted by the Municipal Council of Richmond County at a Public Meeting held on May 26, 2026. ________________________ Shelley David, Municipal Clerk 1. Purpose The purpose of this Policy is to establish a framework to govern requests for flag raisings received from the community and to establish a consistent protocol for the flying of flags at the Municipality of the County of Richmond Administrative Building. 2. Scope All municipal property that fly flags, any flag request received by the Municipality, and all employees that fall within the scope of this policy. 3. Roles & Responsibilities 3.1. Municipal Council will be responsible to: a) review every year, amend, and adopt the flag policy as necessary, and b) support the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and staff in policy implementation. 3.2. The CAO will be responsible to: a) Implement the flag policy, and b) provide oversight to ensure policy implementation. 3.3. Municipal staff, that fall within the scope of this policy, will be responsible to: a) Adhere to the policy statements within this document. THE MUNICIPALITY LA MUNICIPALIT.E OF THE COUNTY OF DU COMTE DE RICHMOND Municipality of the County of Richmond Flag Policy Page 2 of 5 4. Definitions 4.1. "Community flag" means any flag provided by a community group or organization to be flown on a municipally owned flagpole. 4.2. "Council" means the Richmond Municipal Council. 4.3. "Half-staff" means the position of the flag when flying at half-staff, the position will depend on its size, the length of the staff, and its location; but, as a general rule, the center of the flag should be exactly halfway down the staff. When hoisted to or lowered from half-staff position, a flag should be first raised to the masthead. 4.4. "Municipal branded flag" means the flag displaying the municipal brand. 4.5. "MOCR" means the Municipality of the County of Richmond Policy 5. Policy Statement 5.1. MOCR will use flags as a means to promote awareness of cultural diversity, build stronger relationships and trust with communities in the municipality, and support a sense of pride for residents. 5.2. MOCR will fly five (5) flags permanently, each on their own flagpole, at the Municipal Administration Building. A sixth flagpole will be reserved for non- governmental flags or community-requested flags. The sixth pole will remain empty except when in use under this policy. 6. Permanent Flags 6.1. Canadian flag 6.2. Nova Scotia flag 6.3. Municipality of the County of Richmond flag 6.4. Acadian flag 6.5. Mi'kmaq flag 7. Community Flags 7.1. At appropriate times the following flags shall be flown on the sixth flagpole: a) An appropriate Irish flag in the week leading up to March 17th b) An appropriate flag during Autism Awareness Month THE MUNICIPALITY LA MUNICIPALIT.E OF THE COUNTY OF DU COMTE DE RICHMOND Municipality of the County of Richmond Flag Policy Page 3 of 5 c) An appropriate flag during Gaelic Awareness Month d) An appropriate flag during Access Awareness Week e) An appropriate flag during Victoria Order of Nurses (VON) Week f) An appropriate Pride flag during the month of June g) An appropriate flag in the week leading up to National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30th h) An appropriate flag during Veterans Week i) An appropriate flag for the week of Epilepsy Awareness Day (Purple Day) 7.2. Other community groups may submit a written request to fly a specified flag on the sixth flagpole subject to the Council's approval. It is the responsibility of the community group to provide the appropriate flag that is to be flown. 7.3. Written requests should be made to the Municipality and include the following information: a) Community Group name; b) Primary contact name, email, and phone number; c) Dates of flag flying requested; d) Name and image of the flag; e) Purpose of the flag raising; and f) Any additional relevant information (website, event invitation, etc) 7.4. The Municipality will consider flying community flags that: a) Support events or organizations that play a significant role in the MOCR. b) Promote the cultural diversity of the Municipality, and c) Build community connections between the Municipality and community groups and organizations. d) Align with and bring awareness to the Municipality's strategic plan. 7.5. The Municipality will not fly the flag of religious, political, or commercial groups. 7.6. Requests to fly a community flag will be determined on a first come first served basis. THE MUNICIPALITY LA MUNICIPALIT.E OF THE COUNTY OF DU COMTE DE RICHMOND Municipality of the County of Richmond Flag Policy Page 4 of 5 7.7. The Municipality reserves the right to accept, decide the duration of, reject, or amend any requests to fly a community flag on Municipal property. 8. Flag Etiquette 8.1. Flags shall be flown in a manner consistent with flag etiquette of the federal Department of Canadian Heritage. 9. Flags at Half-Staff 9.1. Flags will be flown at half-staff to mark the passing of any of the prominent public figures listed below, for a period beginning when the Municipality becomes aware of the individual's death until and including the date of the funeral or memorial service or until reasonably determined by the CAO. a) Prominent Public Figures i. The Sovereign, or a member of the Royal Family related to the Sovereign in the first degree (spouse, child, parent, sibling) ii. The Governor General or current and former Prime Ministers of Canada iii. The Lieutenant Governor and current or former Premiers of Nova Scotia iv. Current or former Members of Municipal Council v. Current or former Members of Parliament who represent or represented the Municipality of the County of Richmond vi. Current or former Members of Legislative Assembly who represent or represented the Municipality of the County of Richmond b) Protective Services in Richmond County (while on active duty) i. Police ii. Fire Services iii. Emergency Health Services iv. Provincial Conservation Officers v. Federal Fisheries Officers c) Canadian Military personnel from Richmond County (while on active duty) d) Other Circumstances THE MUNICIPALITY LA MUNICIPALIT.E OF THE COUNTY OF DU COMTE DE RICHMOND Municipality of the County of Richmond Flag Policy Page 5 of 5 i. To mourn lives lost in tragic national and international events. The Municipality of Richmond will generally mirror the practice of the Province of Nova Scotia. ii. Other individuals and events may be recognized at the direction of the Municipal Council and/or the Chief Administrative Officer of the Municipality of the County of Richmond. 10. Community Requests for Half-Staffing 10.1. Any citizen who becomes aware of an individual deserving of recognition under this policy may contact the Municipality of the County of Richmond to provide the name of the individual. The individual's qualifications for recognition under this policy and the date of the funeral or memorial service will be relayed to the CAO in a timely manner. 10.2. The Chief Administrative Officer will arrange to have the flag properly lowered and flown at half-staff in accordance with this policy. 10.3. The Chief Administrative Officer will arrange to distribute information to Council and staff by e-mail to explain why the flag is at half-staff. 11. Review A review of this policy and the "Flags to be Flown" will be reviewed by Council on a yearly basis (January) to determine if additional flags are required to be added to the list. Policy Review/Amendment Date of Review Approved/Amended by Council November 22, 2021 April 25, 2022 - Amended to add a "Review" section at the end of the policy April 25, 2022 June 18, 2024 - Amended to add a sixth flagpole for community flags and to add sections 2, 3, 4,5, and 7. June 24, 2024 May 12, 2026 - Section 7.1(i) Epilepsy Awareness Day (Purple Day) May 26, 2026 THE MUNICIPALITY LA MUNICIPALIT.E OF THE COUNTY OF DU COMTE DE RICHMOND