Guidelines for Lowering Flags
The University of Waterloo has three main flags (Canadian, Provincial and University of Waterloo) in 3 locations on campus:
- South Campus Entrance off University Avenue
- North Campus Entrance off Columbia Street (EC1)
- Warrior Field (facing Columbia Street). Flagpoles removed from December 1 - March 31 for Winter season.
The Office of the President manages the procedure for the lowering of the flags. When flags are lowered, notification of the lowering will be published in that day’s Daily Bulletin and in a listing on the Secretariat’s website.
The University of Waterloo flag should be lowered in recognition of the passing of:
- A registered member of the student body or an active staff or faculty member in consultation with the next of kin.
- Any present or past Chancellors, Presidents, Chairs of the Board of Governors, and currently serving Governors.
- Other, at the discretion of the President.
If the flags are to be lowered to acknowledge a death in the University of Waterloo community, it will be aligned with:
- The day of the funeral/celebration of life
- If there is not a funeral or memorial event, we will work with the next of kin to determine an appropriate day for the flags to lowered.
The Canadian or Ontario provincial flag should be lowered:
- To mark the death of a national or provincial figure, or to join in national mourning, the University will lower its flags if the Government of Canada orders flags lowered on federal buildings throughout Canada or if the Government of Ontario orders flags lowered on provincial buildings throughout Ontario. The University of Waterloo follows Canadian Heritage Flag Etiquette and Province of Ontario Flag Protocol.
Other Flags
At the discretion of the President, other flags may be flown for special occasions, such as the Pride and Two-Spirit Pride flags.
Annual Half-Masting Days
We will annually half-mast our flags from sunrise to sunset on:
April 28: National Day of Mourning for Persons Killed or Injured in the Workplace
June 23: National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism
The second Sunday of September: Firefighters’ National Memorial Day
The last Sunday of September: National Peace and Police Officers Memorial Day
September 30: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
November 11: Remembrance Day
December 6: National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women
Contact Us
- A notification of the flag lowering will be published in that day’s Daily Bulletin and in a listing on the Secretariat’s website.
- Should there be cases of doubt as to the proper action or interpretation of these guidelines, members of the university community (faculty, staff, students) are asked to contact the Office of the President for direction.
- For requests to lower the flags to half-mast, please contact the Office of the President and give 5-10 business days notice in advance of the requested lowering date.