Community Flagpole Policy to Go In Front Of Council
At the June 10 Adminstrative and Legislative Review (ALR) Committee Meeting, the Community Flagpole Policy was discussed. Council and Administration have stressed how much work they have to do before the current term ends so the Owl was curious as to why this issue was being brought forward at this time. Councillor McGrogan admitted there had been complaints about the community flagpole. I asked what the complaints had been about; he refused to be specific saying only that is would be disclosed at the Council meeting.
Current ALR members are
Councillor Andy McGrogan, Chair
Councillor Allison Knodel, Vice-Chair
Councillor Robert Dumanowski
Examples of flags flown on the community flagpole include the Metis Flag for Metis Week, the Medicine Hat Tigers Flag - there will also be a flag raising ceremony for the National Indigenous People’s Day on June 20 at City Hall.
The Briefing Note states
Community flagpoles represent a designated space for displaying flags that signify local identity, cultural heritage and important community causes. They serve as a way for municipalities to recognize and celebrate diverse groups, events, and initiatives within the community. These flagpoles are often established to promote inclusivity, civic pride, and engagement by allowing organizations to request flag raising on special occasions.
When a municipality allows flags to be flown on public property, it must carefully consider the implications, as decisions can spark controversy, political debate, or even legal challenges. These requests also require careful management to ensure fairness and prevent controversy, as flags can carry strong symbolic meanings.
The stated options are as follows
The Administrative and Legislative Review Committee (ALR) met on April 8th to discuss the City’s community flag policy in detail. After reviewing the policy’s impact and potential challenges, ALR recommends that Council consider three options for next steps:
Keep the Current Policy – maintain the existing approach, allowing the Administrative Committee to continue making decisions on flag requests; or
Relocate the Community Flagpole – explore moving the flagpole to a different location, such as Towne Square, to improve visibility and accessibility. Preliminary research has indicated that to erect a flagpole in a new location would be $25,000 - $30,000; or
Remove the Flagpole & Update the Policy – eliminate the flagpole entirely and revise the policy to reflect this change, reducing administrative oversight and potential controversy.
