Flagging Policy and Procedures

In accordance with the Government of Saskatchewan flag policy, flags on all Government of Saskatchewan buildings across the province will be flown at half-mast from sunrise to sunset on Sunday, April 28, 2024, to mark the National Day of Mourning for Workers Killed or Injured on the Job.

Half-mast notifications are direction for Government of Saskatchewan buildings and establishments only, though others may use it as a guide.

While the following rules of flag etiquette are not mandatory for all organizations or individuals, they are intended as directives for the flying of flags by the Government of Saskatchewan and as guidelines for other users. General guidelines are as follows:

• Flags should be treated with dignity and respect, and be flown or displayed properly.
• Responsibility for interpreting policy and guidelines for the flying of flags rests with the Protocol Office.
• Responsibility for providing and flying flags on provincial government buildings and grounds in Saskatchewan rests with the Ministry of SaskBuilds and Procurement.

Flying of Flags

1. Legislative Building, Regina

Three flags are normally flown on this building; the order of display, as seen by the spectator, is as follows:

• Canadian flag occupies the centre staff.
• Provincial flag occupies the left staff.
• Union Jack (representing the Crown, the Commonwealth and the First Nations) occupies the right staff.

These flags are flown day and night (illuminated at night).

(Note: the same pattern may be followed elsewhere when three staffs are available.)

2. Courtesy Flagpoles, Legislative Building

The flagpole extending from the Cabinet Room balcony on the Legislative Building may be used for the following purposes:

• The Lieutenant Governor's Standard during official vice-regal occasions such as the Opening of the Legislature. Similar arrangements for visits of the Governor General to the Building.
• Territorial flags of countries, provinces and other jurisdictions, and international organizations during the official visit in the building of their Head of State or Government or other official representatives.
• Officially approved international, national or provincial flags on appropriate occasions as approved by the Protocol Office.

The removable flagpole at the Legislative Building may be used for other flags to draw attention to worthy causes, events, campaigns and non-governmental organizations.

Permission must be granted by the Legislative Building Supervisor, Government Services.

3. Provincial Government Office Buildings, Correctional Centres, Technical Institutes, Royal Saskatchewan Museum

Two flags are normally flown:

• The Canadian flag occupies the left staff.
• The Provincial flag occupies the right staff.

4. Court Houses

Exterior

Where a second flagpole is installed, the Canadian and Provincial flags are flown as in #3 above. When only one flagpole is available, the Canadian flag shall be flown.

Court Rooms

Courts are encouraged to display both the Canadian and Provincial flags in their court rooms, together with a portrait of the Sovereign and the Coat of Arms of Saskatchewan.

The Canadian flag is hung to the left of the presiding judge and the Provincial flag to the right of the presiding judge (as viewed by spectators). Flags are hung on a free-standing pole. Flag size 1.8 m x 0.9 m (6'0" x 3'0") with pole height sufficient to allow draped flag to be approximately 30 cm (12") above floor.

5. Government House, Regina

Government House, Regina, is both a Government Museum and Heritage Property and the Office of the Lieutenant Governor.

The Lieutenant Governor's Standard is therefore flown in an appropriate place at this location when His/Her Honour is present.

The flags of Canada, Saskatchewan and the Union Jack are flown on three of the four flagpoles in the Ceremonial Circle. The fourth flagpole is used in the same way as the flagpole on the Cabinet Room balcony in the Legislative Building.

Half-Masting of Flags

Flags are half-masted as a sign of respect and mourning upon death.

Flags are normally flown at half-mast from the time of notification of death, up to and including the day of the funeral. Normally at any death involving half-masting of flags at provincial government buildings, SaskBuilds and Procurement Regional Directors will be notified from head office of SaskBuilds and Procurement, following direction from the Protocol Office.

When a flag is flown at the half-mast position or lowered from it, it is first raised to the full-mast height and then lowered. At half-mast, the centre of the flag should be exactly half way down the mast height.

Flags will be flown at half-mast at all provincial government buildings, unless otherwise specified below, in the case of the death of:

• The Sovereign, or a member of the Royal Family related in the first degree to the Sovereign.
• Governor General or former Governor General of Canada.
• Prime Minister of Canada.
• Chief Justice of Canada.
• Lieutenant Governor or former Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan.
• Premier or former Premier of Saskatchewan.
• Chief Justice or former Chief Justice of Saskatchewan.
• Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.
• Provincial Cabinet Ministers.
• Members of the Legislative Assembly, at the Legislative Building and at public buildings in the Member’s constituency.
• Federal Cabinet Ministers from Saskatchewan.
• Senators and Privy Counsellors from Saskatchewan, at public buildings in the place of residence of the Senator or Privy Counsellors.
• Members of Parliament from Saskatchewan, at public buildings in the Member's constituency.
• Chief Justice of the Court of King's Bench, Justices of the Court of Appeal and the Court of King's Bench, and Chief Judge of the Provincial Court, at the Legislative Building and at the Court House where the Chief Justice, Justice or Chief Judge presided.
• Provincial Court Judges, at the Court House where the Judge presided.
• Mayor of a city, town or village, at public buildings in the municipality concerned.

On nationally agreed occasions:

• National Day of Remembrance of the Battle of Vimy Ridge (April 9th)
• National Day of Mourning for Workers Killed or Injured on the Job (April 28th)
• National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism (June 23rd)
• Firefighter's National Memorial Day (Second Sunday in September)
• Police and Peace Officers' National Memorial Day (Last Sunday in September)
• National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30th)
• Remembrance Day (November 11th)
• National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women (December 6th)

Flags will be flown at half-mast on the Legislative Building in the case of the death of:

• Former Speakers of the Legislative Assembly
• Former Cabinet Ministers
• Former Members of the Legislative Assembly (only on the day designated by the Legislative Assembly for the consideration of Condolence Motions)
• Canadian Forces soldiers who were born in Saskatchewan, have resided in Saskatchewan, and/or have been stationed in Saskatchewan (until Sunset on the day of their Service).

Public Service of Remembrance (November – Wednesday before Remembrance Day)

On other occasions as recommended by the Deputy Minister to the Premier.

Flags are not normally half-masted for foreign or Commonwealth heads of state or government, as these are recognized by federal jurisdiction; nor for federal Ministers, Senators or Members of Parliament who are not from Saskatchewan.

Precedence and Etiquette

1. When to Fly the Flag

In principle, the flag is only flown in daylight hours, being raised at sunrise and lowered at sunset. Normally, most government buildings operate only weekdays; therefore flags should be raised at 07 00 hours and lowered at 18 00 hours, weekdays only. There are exceptions – e.g. Legislative Building, Royal Saskatchewan Museum.

2. Night Flying

Flags may be flown at night when so desired – in these circumstances they should be illuminated if possible.

3. Order of Precedence

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

• The National Flag of Canada
• Other national flag (e.g. visit of ambassador or high commissioner)
• The Provincial Flag
• Other flags, in order of seniority.

On buildings equipped with two flagpoles, the Canadian flag is therefore on the left and the Provincial on the right (as seen by the spectator from a distance). When the building is equipped with three flagpoles, the Canadian flag is in the centre, the Provincial flag on the left, and the third flag (e.g. Union Jack) on the right. When more than three flagpoles are in use, the order of precedence follows from left to right as seen by the spectator (Canada, other country, Saskatchewan, others by seniority). Where pennants or banners are to be flown for a special occasion they will be flown beneath the Provincial flag on the same pole if no other physical arrangement is made. It is not correct to fly two flags (e.g. Canada and Saskatchewan) from the same flagpole.

4. Lieutenant Governor's Standard

The Lieutenant Governor's Standard, or vice-regal flag, is the personal emblem of the Sovereign's representative in Saskatchewan. It may only be used when the Lieutenant Governor is present. It may be flown at the Lieutenant Governor's residence and office; at the Legislative Building during vice-regal occasions such as the Opening of the Legislature; or in other public buildings when the Lieutenant Governor is personally present in their official capacity; and on the Lieutenant Governor's vehicle or the provincial landau. The vice-regal flag takes precedence over others. It is not half-masted.

5. Displays

Flag may be placed flat against the wall, horizontally or vertically. The Saskatchewan flag, when horizontal, shows the Shield of Arms on its left. When flags are vertical, they should be displayed as follows (as viewed by spectators):

• Canadian flag – upper part of the Maple Leaf to the left and the stem to the right.
• Saskatchewan flag – upper part of the Shield of Arms should be on the left

When used:

• in the chancel of a church, or on a speaker's platform – flag should be displayed to the right of the clergyman or speakers.
• in the body of the church or auditorium – flag should be displayed to the right of the audience or congregation.
• horizontally flat against the wall, at rear of platform – flag should be above the speaker.

Flags should never be used to:

• cover a speaker's table
• drape the front of a platform

Under no circumstances should it be allowed to touch the floor.

Flags used as an unveiling drape for monuments, tablets, pictures or caskets of the dead, must be properly draped and prevented from falling to the ground or floor.

6. Storage and Disposal

Folding Flags for Storage

• Fold flags lengthways in half
• Fold again lengthways, in half
• Depending on size of flag – continue to fold lengthways until size is at manageable proportions (e.g. 4" to 6")
• Now fold flag in half vertically
• And fold flag once more vertically
• Take loose halyard (rope) and wrap it around the flag one complete turn and half way again and slip a loop through the previous rope turn.
• Flag can now be stored and is ready for use.

Disposal

Disposal of worn, faded or frayed flags should be disposed of only by burning and should be carried out quietly and without ceremony. It is not considered an act of disrespect to burn an unserviceable flag.

For Further Information

Policy and Procedures
Protocol Office
306-787-3001

Flag Loans
Contact Building Supervisor, Jeff Tochor, Legislative Building, SaskBuilds and Procurement
306-787-6630

Fransaskois Flag
Contact Francophone Affairs Branch for further information
306-787-1776