Flag Etiquette
In Guiding, you will often hear the terms colours, colour ceremony and colour party.
Colours means the Flags. The colour ceremony is the ceremony of raising
or lowering the Flag and the colour party is the group of girls who
perform the
ceremony.
For more specific information on Flag Etiquette, please check the Government of Canada website!
During a ceremony, meeting or special event
When the Canadian Flag is displayed on a staff placed on a platform stage or dais, it should be to the right of the speaker.
When the Colours (flags) are used in the Guide
horseshoe, the Canadian Flag is always on the Guider's right, the World
Flag on her left as she faces into the horseshoe.
When displayed in places of worship or on a
speaker's platform the Canadian Flag should be displayed flat (hung
horizontally) against the wall or on a staff on the celebrant's right or
speaker's right as she faces the audience or
congregation.
When used in the body of an auditorium the Canadian Flag should be on the right of the congregation or audience.
If the Canadian Flag is displayed vertically, the
top point of the maple leaf should be to the left and the stem to the
right, as seen by spectators.
There is no limit to the number of flags that may
be displayed at one time. However, if a purely decorative effect is
desired without the involvement of precedence for each flag, it is
better to confine the display to Guiding flags.
The Canadian Flag should not be used to cover the
speaker's table or draped in front of the platform nor should it be
allowed to touch the floor.
When displayed with another flag with crossed
staffs against a wall, the Canadian Flag should be on the observer's
left with its staff in front of the other staff.
If a number of flags are carried in a procession
or parade, the Canadian Flag should be in the position of honour at the
marching right or at the centre front.
Everyone should stand at attention when the Canadian Flag is carried past and when the National Anthem is played or sung.
Order of Precedence
1. National Flag of Canada
2. Flags of other sovereign nations (in alphabetical order)
3. Flags of Canadian Provinces, then Flags of the Territories
(precedence is determined by date of entry in Confederation, first the
Provinces, and then the Territories)
4. World Flag (WAGGGS)
5. Guides Canada Flag
6. Ember Flag
7. Spark Flag
When any of the above are not present, continue with the next flag in order of precedence.
Order of Canadian Flags
Ontario (1867), Quebec (1867), Nova Scotia (1867), New Brunswick
(1867), Manitoba (1870), British Columbia (1871), Prince Edward Island
(1873), Saskatchewan (1905), Alberta (1905), Newfoundland (1949),
Northwest Territories (1870), Yukon (1898), Nunavut (1999)