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Municipal Flag Policy
Section: Administration and Public Works
Council Resolution No.: 430-23
Subject: Flag Policy
Date: November 28, 2023
POLICY STATEMENT
This policy provides a framework and establishes guidelines for the flying of flags
at municipally owned facilities and standards for processing requests related to
flag flying, proclamations and public awareness campaigns.
SCOPE
This policy applies to flags flown on municipal property and all requests for
community flag raisings.
DEFINITIONS
"Clerk" means the Clerk appointed by Council pursuant to the requirements of
section 228 of the Municipal Act, 2001, as amended, or his/her designate.
"Community Flag" means the flag adopted by any non-governmental organization.
"Corporation" means the Corporation of the Municipality of Shuniah.
"Council" means Council of the Corporation of the Municipality of Shuniah.
"Flying a Flag at Half-Mast" means the action of flying all flags, forming a single
display of flags, at a position that is equal distance from the top and bottom of a
flagpole, to mark periods of mourning or to commemorate solemn occasions.
"Municipal Flag" means the flag adopted by Council as a symbol of the
municipality.
"Municipality" means the Corporation of the Municipality of Shuniah.
"National Flag of Canada" means the flag approved by the Parliament of
Canada as the national symbol of Canada.
Municipality of Shuniah - Flag Policy
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POLICY
Flag Flying
The Municipality will fly the flags listed below at the MacGregor Recreation Centre:
- National Flag of Canada
- Municipal Flag
All flags shall be flown in accordance with the flag flying etiquette of Canada as
established by Heritage Canada.
The Municipality of Shuniah flag is the property of the Corporation, and the
Municipality reserves the right to direct the appropriate use and display of the flag.
The Municipality also reserves the right to determine whether or not to fly any flag
at a municipal facility.
The National Flag of Canada should always be flown on its own mast and will be
displayed to the left flagpole.
Half-Masting of Flags
The flying of flags at half-mast denotes a period of official mourning or
commemoration. The Municipality will fly flags at half-mast upon notification of the
death until the day of the funeral or memorial service for the following:
- The Sovereign or spouse;
- The current Governor General of Canada;
- The current Prime Minister;
- The current Lieutenant Governor;
- The current Premier of Ontario
- The current Member of Parliament or Member of Provincial Parliament
representing Shuniah;
- The current Mayor, former Mayor, a Member of Council, a former Member
of Council;
- A current municipal employee;
- A Thunder Bay District OPP Officer who dies in the line of duty; and
- A resident of Shuniah, who is a member of the Canadian Armed Forces,
killed while deployed on operations.
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The Clerk shall have the authority to direct the half-masting of flags in the event of
the death of someone not identified above or to recognize/commemorate a solemn
occasion.
The Municipality will fly flags at half-mast on special days as established by the
Federal Government of Canada. Below is a list of the special days to be
recognized by this policy.
- April 28th, Day of Mourning for all Persons Killed or Injured in the Workplace
(Worker's Mourning Day)
- June 23rd, National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism
- September 30th, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- November 11th, Remembrance Day
- December 6th, National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence
Against Women
Full-Mast
If the flag is half-masted, it must be flown at full-mast on the following legal
holidays pursuant to the Holidays Act (R.S.C., 1985, c.H-5), as amended:
- Victoria Day
- Canada Day
Exceptions to the above, the flag remains half-masted for the death of the
following:
- The Sovereign
- Current Governor General
- Current Prime Minister
Applications for Flying Community Flags
All requests for Community Flag raising will be made in writing to the Clerk.
Applications are to be submitted at least three (3) weeks prior to the day requested
for the raising of the flag. The Clerk will review all applications to determine
consistency with this Policy, and will:
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a) approve the flag raising and note it on a Council Agenda for information
purposes, if the flag raising was previously approved by Council within 5 years
of the current request, and is consistent with this Policy; or
b) will make a recommendation to Council to approve or deny the application on
a Council Agenda prior to the date of the proposed flag raising, if the flag
raising was not previously approved by Council, or was approved by Council
more than 5 years before the current request.
Requests for the raising and displaying of flags may be approved for:
- Community service, charitable or not-for profit organizations and/or public
awareness campaigns;
- To support fund-raising activities;
- Celebrate achievement;
- Celebrate multi-cultural and civic events;
- Improve public awareness of programs and/or activities;
- Acknowledge an organization that has achieved national or international
distinction or made a significant contribution to the community;
- Athletic organizations or associations, professional sports teams and sports
organizations;
- An organization that has helped to enhance the Municipality in a positive
manner
Requests will not be approved where the flag flying relates to:
- Political parties, political organizations, or candidates for election;
- Religious organizations or religious events or celebrations;
- Celebrations, campaigns or events with no direct relationship to the
Municipality of Shuniah;
- Celebrations, campaigns or events contrary to municipal policies or by-laws;
- Celebrations, campaigns or events intended for profit making purposes;
- Celebrations, campaigns or events intended to defame the integrity of the
Municipality;
- Celebrations, campaigns or events deemed inappropriate by the Mayor or
Clerk;
- Attempting to influence government policy; or
- Supporting discrimination, hatred, violence or prejudice.
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All requests for flag flying must include the following information:
- Name of the requesting organization or individual;
- Contact information (phone, email, etc.);
- Details of requested event or occasion including date(s);
- Explanation of the purpose of the event or occasion;
- Description of the applicant organization or individual including a brief
history, and any other relevant information.
Flag flying shall be in connection with a particular event by an organization.
The Clerk will determine the timing and duration that the requested flag will be
flown, which will be no longer than 14 days. Approvals shall be based on a first
come first served basis, based on the date the request is received by the Clerk.
Individuals and organizations requesting the flag flying are required to provide the
flag to be raised to the Clerk at least one (1) week prior to the flag raising. An
organization's flag shall be flown no more than once per calendar year.
Organizations shall be required to submit flag flying requests on an annual basis.
The Municipality is not responsible for damaged or lost flags. An approved
Community Flag will fly either in place of the Municipal Flag or below the Municipal
Flag.
Notification to the media and advertising related to flag flying is the responsibility of
the requesting party.
In the event there is a dispute between an organization and the Municipality as to
the eligibility of a request, the appeal process shall be through the Municipal
Council having full and final say as to whether or not the request to fly a flag will be
granted.
Related Policies & Legislation
Government of Canada - Heritage Canada - Flag Etiquette in Canada
https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/flag-canada-etiquette.html
Holidays Act
https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/h-5/index.html
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This policy shall come into effect as of November 28, 2023