The St. Clair Catholic District School Board has adopted a new flag protocol, which will guide and direct the raising and lowering of the National Flag of Canada, the Provincial Flag of Ontario and other secondary flags.

The policy sets out a formal procedure for the lowering of flags, as a sign of mourning or respect on the death of public figures, recognized days of remembrance and days of national observance.  These include but are not limited to:

1. The Pope;
2. The Sovereign or member of the immediate Royal Family;
3. The current or former Governor General of Canada;
4. The current or former Prime Minister of Canada;
5. The Lieutenant Governor or former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario;
6. The Premier, or former Premier or a Cabinet Minister of Ontario;
7. Specified days of remembrance or national observance, such as Remembrance Day, Indigenous Veterans’ Day, National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, etc., at the direction of the Director of Education.

The procedure also sets out occasions when flags may be lowered at individual school locations, with the approval of the Director of Education.

In addition, over the coming year, secondary flag poles will be installed at all schools in the district and at the Catholic Education Centre.  The Provincial Flag of Ontario will be flown on the secondary poles, except on rare occasions when it may be temporarily replaced by other secondary flags, with the approval of a Request for Recognition Committee, as set out in the policy & procedures.  Secondary flags will acknowledge marginalized communities, as identified by the Ontario Human Rights Commission.

The complete Flag Protocol policy and procedure are posted to the Board website.