Calgary mayor to propose banning of national flag displays at city hall

Calgary mayor Jeromy Farkas to introduce motion to end flag flying at city hall

The City of Calgary has announced it will allow the Palestinian flag to fly at City Hall for a flag raising scheduled this Saturday, but after that, Mayor Farkas will introduce a notice of motion to amend the city’s flag policy so that national flags will no longer be raised at city hall.

The decision from newly-elected Mayor Jeromy Farkas comes as the request to fly the Palestinian flag has sparked sharp debate in the community over symbolism, identity and safety amid rising tensions across Canada

“It’s clear that our current policy is no longer workable,” Farkas posted in a statement to X.

“Going forward, we will not be raising national flags at city hall. The city cannot be seen to take sides in international conflicts.”

The city had approved the request from the Palestinian Community Association in Calgary to fly the flag under its long-standing flag-raising protocol earlier in the week.

Farkas confirmed that this request will be honoured, but that if his notice of motion is approved, this could be the last flag of any nation state to fly outside Calgary’s municipal building.

“The flag raising event on November 15, 2025 as approved by the previous council policy, will proceed, with the same requirements as all such events: it must be conducted respectfully, safely, and with an unequivocal rejection of hatred in any form,” said Farkas.

“Our commitment is to ensure City Hall remains a place of unity and safety for everyone. I will continue to listen to all Calgarians and work to ensure our public spaces reflect the values of a strong, proud, and welcoming city.”

The move places Calgary among a growing number of Canadian municipalities attempting to navigate an increasingly polarized climate, where global conflicts have spilled into Canadian streets, campuses, legislatures and civic buildings.

In practice, the city typically hosted anywhere from 50 to 80 flag events a year, ranging from the Philippine Independence Day flag-raising to events honouring Portugal Day, Pakistan Day, Caribbean Carnival, Italian National Day and more.

Farkas did not say if he has plans in his notice of motion to remove other political flags including the Pride flag or transgender flags from being raised at city hall.

‘Symbol of Identity’: Palestinian community responds

For Calgary’s Palestinian community, the upcoming flag raising at City Hall this Saturday is more than a symbolic gesture.

Haneen Omar, a Calgary Palestinian and member of the Palestinian Community Association, says it represents visibility, recognition, and a long-awaited acknowledgment of their identity.

“About the significance of the day, I jokingly tell everyone that this is our coming out party. We’ve always been around and for the first time in history, we can have a day like everybody else,” she said.

Omar, who has family living in Palestine says that November 15 is particularly significant day as it has been declared Palestine Independence Day.

She noted that opposition to raising the flag has been an ongoing challenge.

“Anti-Palestinian racism has existed for so long and denying our identity is one of the ways it was facilitated,” Omar said.

“Why would anyone oppose the raising of our flag? Recognizing that a community exists is an invitation to get to know it. It doesn’t mean you have to love us all, but it means you get to know us.”

“We are all settlers on this land, except for the Indigenous peoples who have been its stewards since land immemorial, and this flag raising, while recognizing that our community is part of its colorful quilt of nations, is still going to fly as a symbol of guests on indigenous land.”

Saima Jamal, a social activist and member of the Palestinian Community Association, echoed that sentiment.

“The Palestinian flag holds a lot of significance for Canadians all over. Doesn’t matter if you’re from Palestine or not, it gives so much pride to people that have been standing up for the Palestinian cause.”

She stressed went on to stress Palestinian sovereignty and the right to self-determination.

“We’re not out there celebrating any terrorism. We’re celebrating the struggle for freedom. We’re celebrating the struggle for statehood.”

“It is shameful for anyone to oppose a flag raising. After two and a half years of protest and rallies, to cancel the Palestinian flag raising would be a disaster for the entire community, not just for the Palestinian community.”

Besan Jadalowen, president of the University of Calgary Palestine Advocacy Club, emphasized the broader significance of the flag.

“It signifies identity, historically, there’s always been attempts to diminish or suppress the Palestinian identity. So the Palestinian flag is a big symbol of identity and resistance for the Palestinian people in general,” she said.

The planned flag raising will still go ahead Saturday, but community members say the last-minute policy change stings.

“It’s like that final recognition of Palestine, of Palestinians, that at least we recognize that Palestinians exist just like we would any other nation,” Jadalowen said.

Jewish community voices concerns

Some members of Calgary’s Jewish community have expressed concern over the planned raising of the Palestinian flag at City Hall, framing it as potentially divisive given the current conflict in the Middle East.

Rabbi Mark Glickman of Temple B’nai Tikvah said he was “very troubled to see the announcement that the Palestinian flag, at this juncture in history, is going to be flying over City Hall.”

While emphasizing that he supports Palestinian national aspirations and hopes there is a safe and secure and peaceful Palestinian state,” Glickman expressed concern that the event “puts the City of Calgary symbolically on one side of that conflict,” and that it could feel like “a slap in the face” to many local Jews.

“My heart breaks over the deaths of so many innocent Palestinians in this horrible war, and yet, the group that is going to be flying the flag, announced that it’s doing so as it rallies against injustice, occupation and genocide,” Glickman said.

“They have couched the hanging of the flag specifically as an anti-Israel statement. It makes it hard for those of us who stand in favor of Palestinian aspirations to stand with them. The flag should be flown over City Hall only when flying those flags can be done in a non-controversial way. This is very controversial.”

Common practice

Daniel Moser, managing editor of Alberta Jewish News, offered a different perspective, noting that the raising of flags for different nations is common at City Hall.

He said for years, the City of Calgary has been raising the Israeli flag for Israeli Independence Day.

“So I don’t see it being too different than that.” Moser said “For me, the rally that’s being expected is more of a concern, just the uncertainty of it. You don’t know who’s going to take the stage, what they’ll say, whether it will be insightful, one way or the other.”

“Obviously you hope there won’t be any violence, and that’s the most important thing, and then you also worry on the flip side about there being counter protests, violence from that side.

“I think at the end of the day, if, if a rally happens and peaceful rhetoric is displayed from the podium, from the crowd, then I don’t think it’s that big of a deal at all,” he added. “Unfortunately, I think it’s kind of a wait and see situation.”

B’nai Brith Canada also weighed in.

It adamantly urged Toronto to cancel its scheduled Palestinian Independence Day event at City Hall on the grounds that it violates the city’s prohibition against flag raisings that promote hatred, violence, or racism.

In a press release, the organization described the PLO—whose leader Yasser Arafat declared Palestinian independence in 1988—as responsible for acts of terror, including the 1972 Munich Olympics attack, and warned that commemorating the declaration “sanitizes the PLO’s antisemitic ideology and acts of terror.”

Richard Robertson, B’nai Brith’s director of research and advocacy, said such recognition is “not only insensitive but also reckless and irresponsible,” and could exacerbate antisemitism in Canada rather than foster inclusion.

Other cities restrict national flags

The controversy over flag raisings at City Hall in Calgary comes as other Canadian cities reconsider their own policies.

In Saskatoon, city officials have decided to fly fewer flags outside City Hall going forward.

A municipal committee approved changes that will prevent flags from other countries being raised, moving away from a long-standing tradition of allowing groups to request national flags for ceremonial purposes.

Regina has taken similar steps.

Following months of discussion, city council unanimously approved changes to its flag and proclamation protocol. Going forward, the ceremonial flagpole outside City Hall will only fly the flags of Canada, Saskatchewan, the City of Regina, Treaty 4, the Métis Nation, and the Union Jack.

Flags of other nations will only be permitted for visiting dignitaries or diplomats, with limited exceptions for Regina’s sister cities, Jinan in China and Fujioka in Japan.

Local charities and non-profit organizations may still raise flags, provided they do not represent a country.

The move follows community tension earlier this year when Regina flew an Israeli flag during the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which some residents said was insensitive.

Provincial policy

At the provincial level, the United Conservative Party is also considering a policy that would further restrict flag raisings across Alberta.

At their annual general meeting later this month, members will vote on a proposal to limit the display of flags on provincial, municipal, and government-funded properties to “only official government flags, specifically Canada, Alberta, and/or official municipality flags.”

Proponents argue that allowing flags from non-governmental organizations or special interest groups fosters ideological division and undermines social cohesion.