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Procedures for Flags (4.9)
This online version is for convenience; the official version of this policy is housed in the University Secretariat. In case of discrepancy between the online version and the official version held by the Secretariat, the official version shall prevail.
Approving Authority: President
Original Approval Date: February 29, 2024
Date of Most Recent Review/Revision: N/A
Administrative Responsibility: Office of the President
Parent Policy: 4.9 Flags
1.0 Flag Lowering on Notification of Death of Laurier Community Member and/or Public Figure
Wilfrid Laurier University will lower flags to half-mast as a gesture of respect and condolence, and in alignment with the wishes of the family, on notification of a death of a member of the Laurier community. Laurier will also lower flags to half-mast upon the death of certain public figures.
1.1 Human Resources will notify External Relations on the death of a faculty or staff member. Dependent on the wishes of the family, External Relations will post a death notice to the Laurier web properties and direct Facilities and Asset Management to lower the flags on all campuses to half mast for a period of one week.
1.2 Student Affairs (Dean of Students office) will notify External Relations on the death of a student. Dependent on the wishes of the family, External Relations will post a death notice to the Laurier web properties and direct Facilities and Asset Management to lower the flags on all campuses to half mast for a period of one week.
1.3 The Secretariat’s Office will notify External Relations on the death of the Chancellor, Senate member (if not a faculty, staff or student, see 1.1 and 1.2) or Board member (if not a faculty, staff, or student, see 1.1 and 1.2). Dependent on the wishes of the family, External Relations will post a death notice to the Laurier web properties and direct Facilities and Asset Management to lower the flags on all campuses to half-mast for a period of one week.
1.4 External Relations will direct Facilities and Asset Management to lower the flags on all campuses to half-mast for a period of one week on the death of the following: The Sovereign; Governor General; Prime Minister; Lieutenant Governor of Ontario; Premier of Ontario.
1.5 Special requests to lower the flag in the event of any other death that impacts the Laurier community must be made to the Office of the President. If approved by the president, the Office of the President will notify External Relations to post notice. External Relations will notify Facilities and Asset Management to lower the flags on all campuses.
2.0 Flag Lowering on Dates of Significance and in Other Special Circumstances
Wilfrid Laurier University will lower flags to half-mast to recognize dates of significance, including special dates recognized by the Government of Canada.
2.1 Annually, External Relations will consult the Government of Canada guidelines and with departments across the university and curate a calendar of dates of significance for lowering the flag to half-mast and provide this calendar in advance to the Office of the President for approval.
2.2 Ahead of these pre-identified dates, External Relations will notify Facilities and Asset Management to half-mast the flags on all campuses.
2.3 On occasion, a tragic event may warrant the flags on Laurier’s campuses to be half-masted as a gesture of grief and condolence to victims. In these instances, External Relations and the Office of the President will convene to make the decision to half-mast the flag. External Relations will notify Facilities and Asset Management of these decisions and instruct to half-mast the flag and the duration. In general, these decisions will mirror the practice of the Federal and Provincial Governments.
3.0 Other Flags
On occasion the university will fly flags other than the flag of Canada, provincial flag of Ontario and the Wilfrid Laurier University flag. Other flags must be approved by the Office of the President.
3.1 Any request to display a flag other than the national flag of Canada, provincial flag of Ontario, or the Wilfrid Laurier University flag must be made to the Office of the President. The request should include a rationale for displaying the flag and the date(s) the flag will fly. Requests require the president’s approval before such flag(s) can be flown.
3.2 If the request is approved, it is the responsibility of the individual or group making the request to supply the flag and coordinate with Facilities and Asset Management to have it flown.