Canadian flags on federal buildings to be raised after Remembrance Day

The Canadian flag at the Peace Tower in Ottawa and on all Government of Canada buildings and establishments across the country were raised at sunset Sunday. 

The flags were lowered again at sunrise Monday to mark Indigenous Veterans Day, according to government ministers. From there, it will return to full-mast.

Then, the Canadian flag will return to full mast after Remembrance Day on Nov. 11, marking the end of the longest period in Canadian history that the flag has been at half-mast. 

The flag has been at half-mast since May 30 to honour the discovery of unmarked graves of Indigenous children at a former kamloops residential school. It remained as other gravesites have since been discovered at residential school sites across the country. 

“Moving forward, the National Flag of Canada will be half-masted to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation every September 30,” said Minister of Crown-Infdigenous Relations Canada Marc Miller and Minister of Canadian Heritage Pablo Rodriguez in a statement. 

The Assembly of First Nations requested Friday that the government attach to all federal buildings, as well as the Peace tower, the orange flag that reads “Every Child Matters”. 

“Raising the flag at this time will allow us to honour and remember important moments in Canada’s history,” said ministers in a statement. “Many discussions were held between Indigenous partners and the Government of Canada to seek guidance on how best to honour the victims of the residential schools and ensure they are never forgotten in the future.