AP 109

Flags

Background

The purpose of this procedure is to establish clear, consistent, and respectful expectations for the flying, display, care and protocol of flags at Abbotsford School District schools and facilities. This procedure reflects established Canadian and provincial flag protocol and supports respectful observance of national, provincial, and District occasions.

The school district will:

  • Follow federal guidelines for displaying the National Flag of Canada as published by Canadian Heritage, and
  • Adopt provincial guidelines of the Government of British Columbia for flag protocol, including half‑masting, and
  • Follow the Ministry of Education and Child Care, School Regulation 265/89.

Procedures

  1. “Flying the Flag”

    1.1 Flags Required to Be Displayed

    1.1.1 The manner in which flags are displayed in Canada is governed by established practice rather than legislation. Federal and provincial guidelines serve as recognized standards for organizations wishing to display flags respectfully.

    1.1.2 All schools are required to fly: 

    • The National Flag of Canada, and
    • The Provincial Flag of British Columbia from either exterior permanent flagpoles or permanently attached horizontal or angled poles.

    1.1.3 Interior flagpoles may be installed at the discretion of the Principal

    1.2 Dignity and Precedence of the Flag

    1.2.1 The National Flag of Canada shall be displayed only in a manner befitting its status as a national symbol and shall not be subjected to indignity or displayed in a position inferior to any other flag.

    1.2.2 When flown in Canada, the National Flag of Canada takes precedence over all other national flags, except the personal standards of members of the Royal Family and the Governor General or Lieutenant Governors.

    1.2.3 The National Flag of Canada shall be flown on its own mast; flying multiple flags on a single mast is not considered proper protocol

    1.2.4 When the National Flag is raised or lowered, or carried in a ceremony: 

    • All present shall face the flag,
    • Individuals shall remain silent, and
    • Those in uniform shall salute.

    1.3 Disposal of Flags

    1.3.1 Flags that become tattered, torn, faded, or no longer suitable for display shall be removed.

    1.3.2 Flags shall be disposed of in a dignified manner, which may include private burning or other respectful means as directed by District operations staff.

    1.4 Obtaining Flags

    1.4.1 National and Provincial flags may be obtained through District operational channels.

    1.4.2 The cost of flags shall be paid from school or District funds, as applicable.

  2. Notification of when to lower flags

    2.1  The Superintendent will notify schools when flags are to be lowered and when they are to be raised.

    2.2  Principals and Managers will advise their custodians when the flag is to be lowered and raised

  3. Procedure for Half-Masting of Flags

    3.1 In accordance with Canadian flag etiquette, flags in the Abbotsford School District will be flown at half-mast on the following occasions:

    3.1.1 As directed by the provincial Office of Protocol

    3.1.2 As directed by the Ministry of Education and Child Care

    3.1.3 As directed by the Superintendent

    3.1.4 On System-Wide Half-Masting of Flags days 

    3.2 With the approval of the Superintendent, flags at individual sites may be flown at half-mast upon the death of a member of the school community or other tragic event

    3.2.1 Flags may also be half-masted at the request of the Prime Minister, and/or Premier of British Columbia for certain significant tragic events (at International, National or Regional levels).

    3.2.2 On occasions requiring the National flag of Canada to be flown at half-mast, all flags flown together should be flown at half-mast.

    3.3 If the day to be observed falls when schools are not in session, flags should be lowered on the last school day preceding the date of observation and raised on the first day following the date of observation

    3.4 Half-masting for Mourning

    3.4.1 Flags are flown at the half-mast position as a sign of mourning. 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.

    3.4.2 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-masting is to place the centre of the flag exactly halfway down the staff.

  4. Current ‘Rules for Flying the Flag’ can be found here

 

Reference 

Section 20, 22, 65, 85 School Act

School Regulation 265/89

Provincial Protocol

Federal Protocol

Last Revised: April 2026


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