Flag etiquette

Half-masting notice

Flags will be at half-mast from sunrise until sunset at the Alberta Legislature Building and McDougall Centre in Calgary on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, to mark the National Day of Remembrance of the Battle of Vimy Ridge.
Protocol note: The Lieutenant Governor’s personal flag, flown at the Legislature building, is never half-masted.

Overview

The manner in which the federal and provincial flags may be displayed in Alberta is established by standard practice. You are encouraged to become familiar with the protocols for the correct use of flags for display. For example, as a standard practice each flag must have its own pole, and flags flown together must be the same sizes.

Protocol for flag displays

When the provincial flag is flown in display with one or more other flags, the order of precedence is:

Canadian flag
other national flag (for example, visit of ambassador or high commissioner)
Alberta flag
Others

Specific guidelines for displaying the Alberta flag are available.

Flags at half-mast

Flags are flown at the half-mast position as a sign of mourning or in observance of a special day. To half-mast a flag, the flag is brought to the half-mast position by first raising it to the masthead and immediately lowering it slowly to the half-mast position. The flag should be raised again to the top before lowering for the day.

The Alberta Protocol Office issues public notices to stakeholders on half-masting occasions and suggested duration of observance.

Flags shall be flown at half-mast at all Government of Alberta sites from the notice of death to sunset on the day of the funeral on the death of:

the Sovereign
immediate members of the Royal Family
current and former Governors General
current and former Prime Ministers
current and former Lieutenant Governors of Alberta
current and former Premiers of Alberta

Half-masting exceptions

All flags in a set should be flown at half-mast. However, the lieutenant governor's personal flag is normally flown at the Legislature Building and at his/her residence. It's never lowered to half-mast.

According to rules established by the federal government under the Holidays Act, the Canadian flag must always be flown at full mast on Victoria Day in May and Canada Day on July 1, unless the flag is at half-mast for the death of: a British monarch; the Canadian prime minister; or the Governor General.

The flag must be flown at full mast on the day a new monarch is proclaimed.

Annual half-masting days

National Day of Remembrance of the Battle of Vimy Ridge (April 9): The flags at the Legislature Building and at McDougall Centre are lowered to half-mast from sunrise to sunset.
National Day of Mourning for Those Who Have Suffered and Died in the Workplace (April 28): The flags at all Government of Alberta locations are lowered to half-mast from sunrise to sunset.
National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism (June 23): The flags at the Legislature Building and at McDougall Centre are lowered to half-mast from sunrise to sunset.
Firefighters’ National Memorial Day (Second Sunday in September): The flags at the Legislature Building and at McDougall Centre are lowered to half-mast from sunrise to sunset.
Police and Peace Officers National Memorial Day (Last Sunday in September): The flags at the Legislature Building, McDougall Centre, Justice and Solicitor General Training Academy, all provincial courthouses and correctional institutions across the Province of Alberta are lowered to half-mast from sunrise to sunset.
National Day of Truth and Reconciliation (September 30): The flags at all Government of Alberta locations are lowered to half-mast from sunrise to sunset.
Remembrance Day (November 11): The flags at all Government of Alberta locations are lowered to half-mast from 11 am to sunset.
National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women (December 6): The flags at the Legislature Building and at McDougall Centre are lowered to half-mast from sunrise to sunset.

Previous half-masting notices

Previous Alberta Protocol Office half-masting notices starting from April 2022, can be found below.

National Flag of Canada half-masting notices are also available online from the Department of Canadian Heritage.

Contact us

Phone: 780-422-1542
Email: [email protected]

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