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Office of the President and Vice-Chancellor

Flag Protocol

PURPOSE

This protocol is to provide guidance on the display of flags and half-masting flags at the university.

PROTOCOL

This protocol applies to University of the Fraser Valley campuses.

  • At the entrance to the University, three official flags shall be flown:
    • Canadian flag in the center
    • British Columbia Provincial Flag on the left, and
    • University of the Fraser Valley Flag on the right.
    • The University will fly their flags at Half-mast on appropriate occasions, to bestow an honor or express a collective sense of sorrow.
    • Flags flown at Half-mast will be by special instruction of the Office of the President and Vice-Chancellor or following a general protocol as follows:

PROCEDURE

Display of Flags

The university will fly the Flags in the following order from left to right:

  • The Provincial Flag of British Columbia;
  • The National Flag of Canada; and
  • The University of the Fraser Valley Flag.

The Canadian flag should be displayed outside the University buildings from either a ground or wall mounted pole/staff.

No flag, banner or pennant should be flown or displayed above the Canadian flag.

Flags flown together should be approximately the same size and shall be flown from separate staffs at the same height. The Canadian flag should be given the place of honor when flown or displayed with other flags. It is only appropriate for the flags of Canada and British Columbia to be flown or displayed properly and treated at all times with dignity and respect.

All flag(s) should be in good clean condition when flown or displayed. When the flag(s) do become worn, noticeably faded or otherwise unfit for service, they should be replaced and the old flag disposed of by private burning.

Flags can be displayed inside a building, either on staffs or fastened to a wall. If flat, it may be hung horizontally or vertically. If it hangs vertically against a wall, the Canadian flag should be placed so that the upper part of the leaf is to the left and the stem is to the right as seen by spectators.

Flags Flown at Half-Mast

The Flags will be Half-masted on all federal buildings and establishments in Canada, and specifically at the University of the Fraser Valley from sunrise to sunset on the following occasions and special days.

Occasions

On the death of:

  • The Sovereign or a member of the Royal Family related in the first degree to the Sovereign (i.e. husband or wife, son, or daughter, father, mother, brother or sister).
  • Prime Minister or former Prime Minister of Canada.
  • The Governor General of Canada or a former Governor General or Lieutenant-Governor
  • A Senator, or a Member of the House of Commons.
  • A Federal Cabinet Minister.
  • The Premier of the Province.
  • The Lieutenant -Governor of a Province.
  • A British Columbia Provincial Cabinet Minister.
  • A member of the British Columbia Provincial Legislature.
  • A death amongst the faculty, staff, student body, or other group at the university or local community and is so authorized by the Office of the President and Vice-Chancellor.

Special Days

  • April 28, Day of Mourning for Persons Killed or Injured in the Workplace (Workers' Mourning Day);
  • June 23, National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism;
  • Second Sunday in September, Firefighters’ National Memorial Day, unless Half-masting occurs near the place where a memorial is being observed;
  • Last Sunday in September, Police and Peace Officers' National Memorial Day, unless Half-masting occurs near the place where a memorial is being observed;
  • November 8, Indigenous Veterans Day
  • November 11, Remembrance Day, unless Half-masting occurs at the National War Memorial or a place where remembrance is being observed;
  • December 6, National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

Other

All other authorizations for half-masting will come from the Office of the President and Vice-Chancellor.

Method of Flying Half-mast

The flag is brought to the half-mast position by first raising it to the top of the mast then immediately lowering it slowly to the half-mast position.

The position of the flag when flying at half-mast will depend on the size of the flag and the length of the flagstaff. It must be lowered at least to a position recognizably “half-mast” to avoid the appearance of a flag, which has accidentally fallen away from the top of the mast owing to a loose flag rope. A satisfactory position for half-mast is to place the center of the flag exactly halfway down the staff.

On occasions requiring that one flag be flown at half-mast, all flags flown together should also be flown at half-mast. 

The flags will be lowered in the morning of the day of the funeral or memorial service and shall be raised to full staff at dusk of the same day.

Related Guidelines

Government of Canada National Flag of Canada etiquette and Half-masting rules:

https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/flag-canada-etiquette/flying-rules.html

https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/flag-canada-masting-rules.html

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