By Justine Kelsie

Changes for flag retirement ceremony in Grande Prairie

Jan 17, 2018 | 10:10 AM

When a Canadian flag becomes tattered and torn, it is disrespectful to throw it in the trash. 

The Government of Canada’s Rules for Flying the National Flag of Canada states that “when a flag becomes tattered and is no longer in a suitable condition for use, it should be destroyed in a dignified way”.

Last year, Oliver’s Funeral Home in Grande Prairie started a Flag Retirement Ceremony where they collected these unfit flags and proceeded with a burning ceremony.

“The first year the plan was to be burning the flags that are tattered or torn. People have no idea what to do with them and some people were throwing them in the garbage. We really shouldn’t be doing that. The proper disposal of them is to have them burned,” explained Liesa Peters, Community Relations with the funeral home. “We tried that last year and that does not work. There is too much nylon in flags these days, so we ended up causing this huge cloud of black smoke and ended up with this puddle of oil.”

Their goal was 15 flags for the first run but ended up with 92. For the second year of the ceremony held on February 15, the flags will be buried. The Grande Prairie Cemetery has teamed up with the funeral home and donated a plot of land for the burial. The ceremony honours veterans that fought for the freedom of Canadians. 

Meaningful Mementos

Remembering Someone You've Lost at Christmas

Dec 03, 2024

Seasonal Sorrow

How Do You Get Through The Holidays When You're Grieving?

Nov 01, 2024

Upcoming Events at Oliver's

Grief & Loss and Estate Planning Seminars

Oct 02, 2024

“They set aside this day, February 15, as the first maple leaf was raised over Parliament in 1965. We are just celebrating it on the 15th because that is the day that it all started with the maple leaf.”

The business is collecting flags prior to the event in order to prepare them. A lunch, speeches, and veteran march is also taking place on that day.