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CITY OF

FLAG POLICY

PURPOSE

CC50

f~4~l7~ July 7, 201 4

May 12, 2014

2018

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The Council of the City of Lethbridge has a broad mandate to provide good government, develop and maintain a safe and viable community, and to supply desirable and/or necessary services to the community.

The purpose of this policy is to provide flag protocol for the City of Lethbridge.

PERSONS AFFECTED

City Council/Administration/Citizens/Committees

POLICY STATEMENT

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that the flags at City Hall and other City of Lethbridge properties and buildings are flown and displayed in a consistent and appropriate manner.

General

a. The City will only fly flags of nations recognized by the Federal department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada.

b. The Mayor's Office consults with the Government of Alberta Protocol Office in situations requiring advice regarding flags and protocol.

c. The Mayor's Office will consult with the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor and the Acting Mayor in situations requiring flags and protocol. Following consultation with the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor and the Acting Mayor, if the situation warrants, the Mayor's Office may consult with the Government of Alberta Protocol Office.

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PROCEDURE

a. Displaying the Flags

The flag order of precedence is as follows: i. The Governor General's Flag (Standard) takes precedence over all

flags in Canada, except The Queen's Personal Canadian Flag and the flag of the Lieutenant Governor when the Lieutenant Governor is performing their duties as The Queen's representative in the province.

ii. The Lieutenant Governor's Flag (Standard) takes precedence over all flags except The Queen's Personal Canadian Flag.

iii. The National Flag takes precedence over all other flags. When flown with other provincial, territorial and municipal flags, the National Flag occupies the position of honour as defined by Canadian Heritage, Government of Alberta.

iv. When provincial and territorial flags are flown with the National Flag, the order is determined by the date of entry into Confederation of the provinces and the creation of the territories.

v. The provincial and territorial flags shall be displayed from left to right: Canada, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Manitoba, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Newfoundland, Northwest Territories, Yukon Territory, and Nunavut.

vi. When representing Canada's membership in the Commonwealth or allegiance to the Crown, the Union Jack takes precedence after a provincial / territorial flag.

vii. The City of Lethbridge Flag takes precedence over all community and/or ethnic flags.

b. All flags are to be flown on separate poles. c. All flags are to be flown at the same height. d. All flags flown in a group are to be the same size. e. There are three (3) flag poles in front of City Hall. The City of Lethbridge will

display the following flags on a daily basis: i. Government of Canada Flag: on the middle pole ii. Province of Alberta Flag: to the left when facing the flag poles

111. City of Lethbridge Flag: to the right when facing the flag poles f. When a flag becomes worn, noticeably faded or otherwise unfit to be flown,

it will be disposed of in a respectful manner and immediately replaced.

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Flag Raisings or Ceremonies for Flags and Banners of Organizations

a. Ethnic and/or community groups or organizations must request in writing to the Mayor's Office for authorization to fly a flag in front of City Hall, specifying the date and time they are requesting along with the reason for the flag raising. If the request meets the guidelines of The City of Lethbridge Flag Policy, the Mayor's Office shall proceed with implementation of the flag raising. The requesting group will be contacted by the Mayor's Office to confirm timelines for flag delivery and pick up, ceremony location, time, date and other support required. Typical examples of banners that are flown are for National Volunteer Week, United Way, Scouts, Metis Week, and Remembrance Day.

b. The written request must be received in the Mayor's Office a minimum of 14 days prior to the proposed date of flying the flag or banner.

c. It is the responsibility of the ethnic, cultural or community organization to request a flag be flown at City Hall or to have a flag raising ceremony as well as provide the flag.

d. Flags shall be flown for one day from sunrise to sunset unless other arrangements have been approved.

e. Flags must be in excellent condition with no holes or torn fringe. f. One request per organization per calendar year will be permitted. g. The City will not fly the flag or banner of an organization or group which are

deemed to be inappropriate, offensive in nature, or those supporting discrimination, prejudice, violence, hatred, political, commercial entities, or religious movements. The Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and Acting Mayor will make the decision when a flag or banner is potentially seen as promoting racism, violence, or hatred. The City reserves the right to decide whether or not to fly the flag of a recognized nation when there is political unrest or conflict in that country. In these instances, the City will consult with Government of Alberta Protocol and/or the Department of Foreign Affairs, and will base its decision on their recommendations.

h. When there are requests for flags of other organizations, countries or community banners to be flown, the City of Lethbridge flag is removed and the new flag is put in its place.

i. Flag of our twin or sister cities will not be flown on a permanent basis. They may be flown on the occasion of an official delegation visiting Lethbridge or other significant event.

Flags at Half-Staff

a. The City of Lethbridge will fly flags at half-staff or lower flags to half-staff on specific occasions to commemorate a solemn occasion.

b. All requests to fly the flags at half-mast must be in writing to the Mayor's Office.

c. Flags may be lowered to half-staff from the time of notification of death until sunset the day of the funeral or only from sunrise to sunset on the day designated as the day of the funeral or memorial service. This will depend on the circumstance.

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d. Flags shall be lowered following notification by e-mail from the Mayor's Office to the affected areas outlining the duration (effective date for lowering as well as the date to raise the flags). Depending on the circumstance flags may be lowered only at specific City locations (i.e. City Hall) or lowered at all City properties and buildings.

e. The lowering of flags to half-staff is at the directive of: i. the Prime Minister's Office acting through Canadian Heritage or

ii. the Premier's Office acting through Alberta Protocol or iii. the Mayor's Office, in consultation with the Deputy Mayor and Acting

Mayor f. Flags may be flown at half-staff on all City of Lethbridge properties and

buildings from the time of notification of death until sunset the day of the funeral or the memorial service for the following individuals:

i. Sovereign ii. Member of the immediate Royal Family

iii. Governor General of Canada or former Governor General iv. Prime Minister of Canada or former Prime Minister v. Lieutenant Governor of Alberta or former Lieutenant Governor

vi. Premier of Alberta or former Premier vii. Mayor of Lethbridge or former Mayor viii. Members of Council (current) ix. A City employee that dies in the line of duty or x. otherwise directed by the Prime Minister's Office or the Premier's

Office

Policy Variance Any proposed variances from the policy are to be presented by the Mayor's Office or the Office of the City Clerk and are to be decided by the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and Acting Mayor. If consensus cannot be reached among the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Acting Mayor, the proposed variance is to be discussed by City Council in camera at the next regularly scheduled meeting of Council. In the event of an issue of immediate concern, the City of Lethbridge will follow the lead of the Government of Alberta.

RESPONSIBILITIES

City Council to: a. Create, amend, and approve the policy

Mayor's Office to: a. Advise on flag protocol b. Send out notices on flag raising and lowering to the appropriate City

Departments c. Notify the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and Acting Mayor if there are any flag

requests that vary from the policy or require further discussion and decisions.

d. Coordinate the request with the Community Services Department ensuring that the Special Event Permit process is completed

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City Clerk's Office to: a. Create and amend the process to receive flag or banner requests from

the community b. Receive applications for a flag or banner raising, and forward requests to

the Mayor's Office c. When requested, assist the Mayor's Office if there are any flag requests

that vary from the policy or require further discussion

REFERENCES • Canadian Heritage, Government of Canada • Alberta Protocol Office, Government of Alberta

REVISION HISTORY • April 28, 2014: New Document (Flag Policy) • May 12, 2014: Revisions to process • July 7, 2014: Change to policy variance process