Flag Protocol Policy

To provide protocol for flag usage on Seneca’s campuses.

This policy applies to all Seneca’s campuses.

A person considered to be important because of high rank or office. (e.g., the Sovereign or member of the Royal Family, a current or former head of state, prime minister of Canada or premier of Ontario).

A piece of cloth or similar material, typically rectangular, affixed by one edge to a pole or rope and used as the symbol or emblem of a country, province, city, township, organization or institution or as a decoration during public festivities.

An active or former member of the Board of Governors, Program Advisory Committee member, past employee, major donor, distinguished alumni, Seneca award recipient, government official, dignitary or other prominent supporter.

When the centre of a flag is exactly half-way down the mast. The position of a flag when flying at half-mast will depend on its size, the length of the mast and its location. When hoisted to, or lowered from half-mast position, a flag should be first raised to the masthead.

The main part of a flagpole, also referred to as the staff or flagstaff. A flag is connected to and flown from a flagpole using rope, toggles and a pulley.

A Seneca student, employee, retiree or a friend of Seneca.

1. Flags shall be flown at half-mast to acknowledge the death of a current Seneca student or employee and individuals serving as a member of the Board of Governors at the time of their death.
2. Flags shall be flown at half-mast on the following commemorative days that are recognized by the Government of Canada:
   • Jan. 29: National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action against Islamophobia
   • April 28: Day of Mourning for Persons Killed or Injured in the Workplace (Workers’ Mourning Day)
   • June 23: National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism
   • Second Sunday in September: Firefighters’ National Memorial Day
   • Last Sunday in September: Police and Peace Officers’ National Memorial Day
   • Sept. 30: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
   • Nov.11: Remembrance Day
   • Dec. 6: National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.
3. Flags shall be flown at half-mast to mark the death of a dignitary (e.g. the Sovereign or member of the Royal Family, a current or former head of state, Prime Minister of Canada or Premier of Ontario). 
4. Flags shall be flown at half-mast in recognition of friends of Seneca or other individuals or events at the discretion of the President’s Office.
5. If flags are at half-mast in accordance with this policy, they will be flown at full-mast on the following legal holidays created under the Holidays Act: Victoria Day and Canada Day.

1. Marketing & Communications is responsible for requesting that Security and Emergency Management Services lower and raise flags at each campus.
2. Security and Emergency Management Services is responsible for the lowering, and raising of flags at each campus.
3. Campus Services is responsible for replacing flags.

1. On each day when flags are flown at half-mast, they will be lowered before sunrise and raised after sunset.
2. When flags are flown at half-mast for more than one day, they will be lowered before sunrise on the first day and raised after sunset on the final day.
3. To mark the death of a Seneca student, employee or board member, our flags shall be flown at half-mast on the day of the individual’s funeral or memorial service.
4. When information about an individual’s funeral or memorial service is not available, flags will be flown at half-mast on the day, or the day following, the news of the individual’s death is made known to the Seneca community.
5. To mark the death of a dignitary, flags will be flown at half-mast at the time of notification of death until sunset on the day of the funeral.

1. When flags at Seneca are at half-mast to acknowledge the death of a member of the Seneca community, a notification will be provided to students and employees on Seneca’s intranet (i.e., MySeneca) and, where appropriate, social media, describing the reason.
2. When flags at Seneca are at half-mast to mark commemorative days, or the death of a dignitary, notification will also be provided on social media.

• Response to a death within the Seneca community

• Rules for half-masting the National Flag of Canada
• Half-masting of the Flag Notices
• Legislative Assembly of Ontario - flags on the legislative grounds
• Holidays Act

Approval Date: August 2022