HomeMy WebLinkAboutBy-law No. 2016-055 THE CORPORATION OF THE
MUNICIPALITY OF BAYHAM
BY-LAW NO. 2016-055
A BY-LAW TO ADOPT A FLAG PROTOCOL POLICY
WHEREAS the Council of The Corporation of the Municipality of Bayham recognizes
the need for a clear and concise policy concerning the proper etiquette and protocol for
the raising and half-masting of flags at municipal facilities;
AND WHEREAS the Council of The Corporation of the Municipality of Bayham deems it
advisable that the Municipal Flag Protocol Policy be confirmed and adopted by By-law;
THEREFORE THE COUNCIL OF THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF
BAYHAM ENACTS AS FOLLOWS:
1. THAT effective upon passage the Municipal Flag Protocol Policy attached hereto
as Schedule "A" and forming part of this by-law is hereby adopted as the policies
and procedures for the proper etiquette and protocol for the raising and half-
masting of flags at municipal facilities for the Municipality of Bayham.
2. THAT this Municipal Flag Protocol Policy By-law may be amended from time to
time as directed and deemed necessary by The Council of the Corporation of the
Municipality of Bayham
3. THAT any Municipal Flag Protocol policies previously adopted are hereby
repealed;
4. AND THAT this by-law shall come into full force and effect upon final passing.
READ A FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD TIME and finally passed this 21st day of July
2016.
MAYOR
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Flag Protocol Policy
Section 1 — Policy Statement
1.1 The National Flag of Canada shall be displayed only in a manner befitting the national
emblem; it shall not be subjected to indignity or displayed in a position inferior to any other
flag or ensign.
1.2 The Corporation of the Municipality of Bayham does not display flags at any facilities owned
by the Municipality other than flags related to municipal, provincial and federal levels of
government and as such, has designed a policy to provide:
a. dignified, proper protocol and etiquette for flying the National Flag of Canada, the Ontario
Provincial Flag and the Municipality of Bayham Flag; and
b. to determine the occasions when flags shall be flown at half-mast
Section 2 - Definitions
2.1 `Death' shall mean the day of death and up to and including the day of the funeral.
2.2 'The National Flag of Canada' shall mean the National Flag of Canada as approved by
Parliament and Proclaimed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, on
February 15, 1965.
2.3 'The Ontario Flag' shall mean the current Ontario Flag as proclaimed by the Flag Act on May 21,
1965.
2.4 'The Municipality of Bayham Flag' shall mean the current Municipality of Bayham Flag.
Section 3 - Procedures
3.1 Dignity of the National Flag of Canada:
3.1.1 The National Flag of Canada shall always be flown aloft and free.
3.1.2 The National Flag of Canada may be raised and lowered each day or may be flown by
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night as well as by day.
3.1.3 The National Flag of Canada shall not be used as a table or seat cover or as a
masking for boxes, barriers, or intervening space between floor and ground level on a
dais or platform.
3.1.4 The National Flag of Canada shall not be used to cover a statue, monument or plaque
for an unveiling ceremony.
3.1.5 The National Flag of Canada shall always be flown on its own mast.
3.1.6 When the National Flag of Canada is raised or lowered all present shall face the flag,
and all shall remain silent.
3.1.7 The National Flag of Canada shall be raised first and lowered last, unless the number
of flags permits their being raised and lowered simultaneously.
3.1.8 With another flag, the National Flag of Canada shall be on the left of the observer
facing the flags while looking towards the facility; both shall be at the same height.
3.1.9 Ina line of three flags, the National Flag of Canada shall be in the centre. The other
two flags shall be placed to the left and right of the National Flag of Canada, from the
perspective of the observer facing the three staffs.
3.1.10 With flags of sovereign nations, provinces, territories and municipalities, the National
Flag of Canada, when flown or paraded, takes precedence over all other national flags.
When flown with other flags, all flags shall be flown on separate staffs and at the same
height, all being of the same size, with the National Flag of Canada occupying the
position of honour.
3.2 Half-Masting
3.2.1 Flags are flown at the half-mast position as a sign of respect and condolence or to
commemorate significant dates.
3.2.2 The appropriate staff at each location shall be required to lower and raise the flags.
3.2.3 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.
3.2.4 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-way
down the staff to avoid the appearance of a flag which has accidentally fallen away
from the top of the mast owing to a loose flag rope.
3.2.5 On occasions requiring that one flag be flown at half-mast, all flags flown together shall
also be flown at half-mast.
3.2.6 Flags will only be half-masted on those flagpoles fitted with halyards and pulleys. Some
buildings fly flags from horizontal or angled poles, without halyards, to which flags are
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permanently attached. Flags on these will not be half-masted.
3.2.7 All flags may be flown at half-mast at Municipality properties in accordance with the
guiding principles of the Canadian National Flag Protocol through the following specific
conditions:
3.2.7.1 On the death of a current or former Municipality of Bayham Mayor or Member
of Council;
3.2.7.2 On the death of a current or former Municipality of Bayham employee;
3.2.7.3 On the death of a member of the Canadian Armed Forces while in active
duty;
3.2.7.4 On the death of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, the Premier of Ontario or
another person similarly honoured by the Province of Ontario;
3.2.7.5 On the death of the Local Member of Parliament or Local Member of
Provincial Parliament whose riding includes the Municipality of Bayham;
3.2.7.6 On the death of the Sovereign or a member of the Royal Family related in the
first degree to the Sovereign;
3.2.7.7 On the death of the Governor General, the Prime Minister, or former
Governor General, or former Prime Minister;
3.2.7.8 On April 28, Workers' Mourning Day;
3.2.7.9 November 11, Remembrance Day, the flag shall be flown at half-mast from
11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon to coincide with the half-masting of the Peace
Tower of the Parliament Buildings;
3.2.7.10 The Flags at Municipal fire stations may also be flown at half- mast in
recognition of the death of active or retired firefighters; in recognition of line-
of-duty deaths of fire fighters in other municipalities; and in special
circumstances outside of Ontario at the discretion of the Fire Chief. The half-
masting of such flags shall be performed by the fire station staff.
3.2.8 The Canadian National Flag must nonetheless be flown at full-mast on the following
legal holidays created under the Holiday Act (R.S.C.c. H- 5):
3.2.8.1 Victoria Day;
3.2.8.2 Canada Day.
3.2.8.3 The full-masting of the above does not apply if the flag is half-masted for the
death of the Sovereign, current Governor General or current Prime Minister,
but the National Flag of Canada must be flown at full-mast on the day on
which the accession of the new monarch is proclaimed.
3.3 Dignified Folding, Handling and Disposal of Flags:
3.3.1 While the flag is being tied to or removed from the halyard, it will be draped
respectfully over one arm and not touching the ground.
3.3.2 When brought in for storage, the flag will be hung over its rack to dry or to be
folded in the following manner:
3.3.2.1 Fold the flag lengthways in half;
3.3.2.2 Fold again lengthways, in half;
3.3.2.3 Fold the flag in half vertically;
3.3.2.4 Fold flag once more vertically;
3.3.2.5 Tie with light weight cotton string or equivalent.
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3.3.3. When a flag becomes faded or tattered and is no longer in a suitable condition for use,
it shall be destroyed in a dignified way by burning it privately, or by tearing or cutting it
into strips that no longer resemble the original flag.
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