Procedure for the Raising of Flags

Contact Officer: Office of the Principal (Relationship and Protocol Manager)

Purpose

This procedure establishes which flags are to be flown on official Queen’s flagpoles and under which circumstances. It also offers guidance on handling requests to raise flags other than those deemed official by the University.

Procedure

Official Flags

The following flags are official flags recognized by Queen’s and shall be flown as and when detailed:

1. National Flag of Canada
2. Provincial Flag of Ontario
3. Queen’s Ceremonial Flag
4. Queen’s Tricolour Flag
5. Smith School of Business Flag (managed by Smith School of Business)

National Flag of Canada - to be flown from Theological Hall daily and particularly on the following occasions:

• Convocations
• Board of Trustees Meeting
• University Council Meeting
• University Day (October 16)
• Installation of Chancellor or Principal
• Alumni weekend (Homecoming)
• When directed by Principal or delegate

Provincial Flag of Ontario - to be flown from Ontario Hall daily and particularly on  the following occasions:          

• Convocations
• University Day (October 16)
• Alumni weekend (Homecoming)
• Visits by the Premier and/or Ministers of the Government of Ontario
• During a visit from the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario (LG), the standard of the Lieutenant Governor should be flown (the Office of the LG will provide the standard on a temporary basis)

Queen's Ceremonial Flag* - to be flown from Grant Hall for the day on the following occasions:

• Convocations
• Board of Trustees Meeting
• University Council Meeting
• University Day (October 16)
• Installation of Chancellor or Principal
• Alumni weekend (Homecoming)
• When directed by Principal or delegate
• During a visit from the Governor General (GG), the standard of the Governor General should be flown (the Office of the GG will provide the standard on a temporary basis)

*(Sometimes referred to as the Chancellor’s Flag, the Chancellor will normally be on campus for the aforementioned occasions; however, the Ceremonial Flag is not specifically tied to the presence of the Chancellor on campus, but rather to the ceremonial events that the role attends).

Half-mast

See accompanying procedure for the lowering of flags to half-mast, for detail on which of the above flags are to be lowered to half-mast, in the event of particular deaths or on certain commemorative dates.

Unofficial flags

Requests to raise flags that are not on the list of officially approved flags should be submitted to the Office of the Principal via the Executive Assistant to the Principal.   

Unofficial flags, if approved, will be raised on the flagpole by the John Deutsch University Centre generally for one day only, to be fair and consistent with all constituencies, but with exceptions as might be approved by the Principal from time to time. In the event that a requested date clashes with an official university event or flag-lowering to half-mast, then the official flag will take precedence and those making the request will be asked to choose another date if appropriate.

Flags will not be raised for:

• Matters of political controversy, ideological or religious beliefs, or individual conviction;
• Events or organizations with no direct relationship to Queen’s University; or
• Campaigns intended for profit-making purposes.

Other requests, including those that may be contentious or ambiguous, will be decided at the discretion of the Principal.