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How to Display the Flag
Against a Flat Surface - The canton (1st quadrant) should be in the upper left position.
On a Staff - The canton should be placed nearest the top of the staff. When carried, the flag should be aloft and free.
Suspended Vertically in the Middle of a Street - The upper part of the flag should face north in an east-west street and face east in a north-south street.
Sharing the Same Base - When placed in an arrangement of three flags, the National Flag should be placed at the centre, or highest point. In a two flag arrangement, the National Flag should be placed left of centre.
When Used to Cover a Casket at Funerals - The canton should be draped over the upper left corner of the casket. The flag should be removed before the casket is lowered. The flag size should be 4½ft. x 9ft. (1.4m x 2.8m).
Half-Masting for Mourning - Flags are flown at half-mast as a sign of mourning. Flags are flown at half-mast from the day of death up to and including the day of funeral. On Remembrance Day, November 11, the flag is flown at half-mast from 11:00am to 12:00pm.
Position of Honour
Flown Alone - The National Flag should be flown at the centre or left of centre position depending on the number of poles.
With Flags of Other Sovereign Nations - All flags should be flown at the same height with the host nation flag on the left of the observer facing the flags. The host nation flag should be raised first and lowered last.
With Flags of Provinces and Territories - The National Flag should be at the centre, front and/or left of centre position. The Provincial and Territorial Flags are displayed in the order of their inclusion in the country.
Ontario (1867)
Quebec (1867)
Nova Scotia (1867)
New Brunswick (1867)
Manitoba (1870)
B.C. (1871)
P.E.I. (1873)
Saskatchewan (1905)
Alberta (1905)
Newfoundland and Labrador (1949)
Northwest Territories (1870)
Yukon Territories (1898)
Nunavut (1999)
Disposal of Flags - When a flag becomes tattered and is no longer in suitable condition for use, it should be destroyed in a dignified way by burning it privately.
Flag Etiquette
lrichard@bcflagandpole.ca