HALF-MASTING FOR MOURNING:

Flags are flown at the half-mast position as a sign of mourning.

The flag is brought to the half-mast position by first raising it to the top of the mast then immediately lowering it slowly to the half-mast position.

The position of the flag when flying at half-mast will depend on the size of the flag and the length of the flagstaff. It must be lowered at least to a position recognizably half-mast to avoid the appearance of a flag, which has accidentally fallen away from the top of the mast owing to a loose flag rope. A satisfactory position for half-masting is to place the center of the flag exactly halfway down the shaft.

On occasions requiring that one flag be flown at half-mast, all flags flown together should also be flown at half-mast. Flags will only be flown on half-mast on those flagpoles fitted with halyards and pulleys. Some buildings fly flags from horizontal or angles ploes, without halyards, to which flags are permantently attached. Flags on these will not be half-masted.

Flags are flown at half-mast during the period of death. Death may be taken to include the day of death and up to and including the day of the funeral.

On Remembrance Day, November 11, the flag is flown at half-mast from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on the Peace Tower of the Parliament Building.

Please see our other pages on Flag Protocols for Canada!