Doing What’s Best for Kids

General Administration AP 157: Flag Protocol

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Background

Principals and appropriate Division Office personnel shall ensure that the Canadian flag and the Alberta flag are displayed at schools and other Division facilities.

Procedures

  1. General
    1. The Canadian flag shall be displayed in each elementary school classroom.
    2. The Canadian and Alberta flags shall be flown at each school on every instructional day.
    3. The Canadian and Alberta flags shall be displayed at all public functions held in the schools.
    4. When a flag becomes tattered, torn or faded to the extent that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, it shall be turned over to the maintenance department for proper disposal.
    5. Flags shall be displayed in accordance with a general protocol as set out by the Secretary of State for Canada.
  2. The Principal shall:
    1. Purchase flags, as required, for the school.
    2. Display the Canadian and Alberta Flags in accordance with this procedure.
    Principals may display flags in other areas within the school at his/her discretion.
  3. Placement of the flags shall be such that when displayed with another provincial or national flag, the Canadian flag is always placed at the same height as the other, and to the left of an observer facing both flags.
    1. If a school or other Division building has a third flagpole outside, the order of precedence for flying the flags is:
      1. The National Flag of Canada
      2. The Flag of Alberta
      3. Other flags as approved by the Superintendent of Schools or designate.
  4. Flags shall be flown at half-mast:
    1. At all Division/school sites upon the death of a current student, staff member or trustee;
    2. For a period commencing at notification of the death, up to and including the day of the funeral, at the site(s) where the deceased was closely associated or connected; and
    3. On the day of the funeral for cases other than those described in clause 4.2.
    4. Current ‘Rules for Flying the Flag’ can be found at:
      Government of Canada Rules for Half-Masting the National Flag of Canada 
      https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/flag-canada-masting-rules.html
      Government of Alberta Flag Etiquette 
      https://www.alberta.ca/protocol-flag-etiquette.aspx  

Adopted:

September 21, 2016

Amended:

December 30, 2021, April 16, 2024

Reference:

Section 20, 26, 50, 60, 61, 113 School Act
Government of Canada Rules for Half-Masting the National Flag of Canada https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/flag-canada-masting-rules.html
Government of Alberta Flag Etiquette https://www.alberta.ca/protocol-flag-etiquette.aspx