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Show your pride and prepare for Canada Day with our Canada-Themed Displays >>
How you choose to fly your Canadian flags isn’t dictated by law, but depending on the situation and application, there is a lot of etiquette involved. Whether it’s for an important ceremony or you just want to add a patriotic touch to your home, let’s talk about Canada flag etiquette and the surprising rules you probably didn’t know.
Many Canadians are as patriotic as they come, so knowing how to properly hang a flag, based on time and location, is important. Don't worry, Classic Displays is here to provide you with all the Canadian flag etiquette!
Let’s go through the surprising rules of Canadian flag etiquette you might not know.
You can fly the National Flag of Canada at any time, day or night. Unlike some flags, it doesn’t need to be lit after sunset. When it comes to displaying a Canadian flag from the home or office, the rules aren’t as intimidating as you think:
When displaying your Canadian flag, it’s best to make sure that you put it in a central place that really highlights its honour. If you want to pair the Canadian flag with other banners, it’s probably best to have it displayed higher than the rest; however, this can change based on the celebration or circumstance.
Make sure your flag is always hung upright, with the maple leaf facing outwards and clearly visible. Hanging the flag improperly looks not only sloppy but also disrespectful, depending on who you ask. While it’s unlikely you’ll be ousted from the community with pitchforks for hanging a flag improperly from your home property, other scenarios, such as government speaking arrangements, are another story.
Make sure you’re using an undamaged material that can withstand the unreliable Ontario weather. Also, ensure the flag proportions are correct: the flag's width should be twice its height.
In Canada, the National Flag must be flown at all federal buildings, military bases (in and outside of the country), as well as airports. Here is a more detailed list of buildings and locations that are required to display the Canadian Flag:
Federal Government Buildings
This includes parliament buildings such as the Senate and House of Commons, as well as Federal administrative offices.
Crown Corporations
This includes headquarters and offices owned by federal corporations.
Military Installations
This includes bases and headquarters of the Canadian Armed Forces.
Canadian Embassies, High Commissions, and Consulates
This includes all diplomatic missions abroad, meaning all missions are required to display Canada’s National Flag.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Buildings
This includes RCMP headquarters and other major facilities.
National Museums and Historic Sites
And finally, all facilities operated by Parks Canada and national museums.
The position of the Canadian flag is important when it comes to practicing proper etiquette. While some of these steps may seem relatively simple, they're still important to note, especially if you're not in the know!
When you want to fly a flag horizontally, the Canadian National Flag is always flown with the central maple leaf pointing upwards. When you want to fly a flag vertically, the Canadian National Flag is always flown with the central maple leaf pointing upwards.
Flying the Canadian flag upside down is considered generally disrespectful, unless in very specific, internationally recognized circumstances. According to the Government of Canada, the only time the flag should be flown upside down is to signal "international distress in instances of extreme danger to life." Occasionally, the flag may be flown upside down as a sign of protest.
However, in what cases would you display a flag horizontally? Take a look at Classic Display’s Horizontal Canada Flag Street Pole Banner: it’s the perfect patriotic decoration. They can also be flown like this on a flag pole for specific occasions, such as sporting events or other official celebrations.
When hanging the National Flag vertically, the flag itself needs to be positioned so that the upper area of the leaf is pointing to the left, ensuring it's visible to those standing and facing the flag. Flying the flag in this manner ensures the canton (the most important part of the flag) faces the top left corner. This is a position of honour, and is generally considered proper flag etiquette.
The Canadian flag must always be flown on its own designated flagpole, with the flag’s sleeve closest to the pole itself. As mentioned, the canton needs to be placed nearest the top of the pole/mast. The flag needs to be flown on its own flagpole because it’s considered poor etiquette to fly Canada’s National Flag alongside another, regardless of type, on the same pole. The flag CAN be flown alongside other flags, just not on the same pole.
There are three different types of flagpoles and applications you’ll commonly see:
Exterior permanent poles: Generally located outside of buildings, although they are occasionally featured on top of buildings or on proximate grounds. These flag poles need to be fitted with functional hoisting devices (halyard and pulley) so the flag is easy to raise, lower, and bring to half-mast.
Exterior portable flagpoles: Similar applications as mentioned above, paired with the convenience of being portable. These flag poles can be erected and dismantled as needed/based on season or celebration, and have a similar halyard and pulley system as permanent poles.
Interior flag poles: These you’ll often see during important government events or military speeches. These poles are also portable and are generally on a much smaller scale. They tend to have a base holding the pole upright, allowing the flag to drape.
Need a Canadian flag? Classic Displays offers durable Canadian flags in various dimensions to meet your needs.
(Available Sizes: 45 cm x 90 cm, 70 cm x 140 cm, 90 cm x 180 cm, 115 cm x 230 cm, 135 cm x 270 cm, 180 cm x 360 cm)
Flying a flag at half-mast has serious national significance. Flags flown at half-mast signify respect, as well as collective sorrow during times of national mourning. When the Canadian flag is flown at half-mast, it's the nation's way of recognizing significant loss and tragedy, while honouring those involved.
All of the National Flags are globally recognized and provide a visual representation of your country's sense of sorrow or pride, depending on the circumstance. This is why flag etiquette and education are essential.
The Government of Canada sees the half-masting of a flag as so significant that they've implemented rules for half-masting the Canadian flag, ensuring that the application is consistent across all federal buildings and installations. Provinces, territories, and municipalities across the country have subsequently adopted similar rules out of respect and honour.
The term “dipping the flag” generally refers to lowering a flag downward or even tilting it towards the ground. It’s a sign of respect during important military ceremonial contexts, generally when being carried by flag bearers. This is another example of a circumstance where portable flag poles or staffs are useful.
To avoid confusion, it’s important to note that the National Flag is NEVER dipped.
Instead, some of the flags that may be dipped during a military ceremony include:
Military Unit Standards and Colours
Flags of Allies or International Organizations
When looking at Canada’s specific historical practices, dipping the flag is generally only done during military ceremonies. Otherwise, there are no other notable contexts in Canada where dipping a flag is considered necessary or even customary.
The official etiquette of dipping the flag goes as follows: the flag bearers (carrying the flag so it flows horizontally) carefully lower flagstaffs or poles at a 45-degree angle. In some cases, the flags can also be lowered until they reach the ground.
However, in other ceremonial military contexts, when salutes are being given, the flag is never dipped and instead is allowed to fly freely. Flag bearers extend their hands to let the flag flow until the conclusion of the salute, where the flags are then gathered.
Now that we’ve gone through a lot of the historical significance, let’s explore some additional ways you can display the Canadian National Flag.
As Decor
There are plenty of Canadian-themed decorations and displays you can feature to show your patriotism without necessarily flying a Canadian flag. Classic Displays specializes in holiday displays, including Canadian-themed displays that are perfect for national holidays. These come with fewer historical rules. We also have an array of flags and banners to choose from!
On Your Car
When it comes to Canadian flag etiquette, the respective place of honour for flying the flag is the front right fender on the passenger's side. If you're flying the flag alone, this is the official spot for it.
On a Boat or Ship
Canadian ships and boats should fly the National Flag of Canada in its proper national colours, even if it's just a leisure watercraft. Canadian ships and boats should fly the National Flag of Canada in its proper national colours, even if it's just a leisure watercraft. Foreign vessels, on the other hand, can fly the Canadian flag as a means of courtesy when docking in a Canadian port. In this circumstance, the flag is traditionally flown from the foremast.
Flying Flags Alongside the National
As we mentioned, the National Flag of Canada should always be flown on its own flagpole. However, other flags can be flown next to the National Flag, including:
Indigenous Flags
Other National Flags
Municipal Flags
Organizational Flags (NATO, United Nations)
A proudly Canadian-owned and operated company, Classic Displays has been bringing magic to events for more than 46 years. Whether you need flags and banners or large light-up displays, we have everything you need to show your community you love Canada as much as we do! Contact us today.
‘Tis the season to create an unforgettable Christmas display! But how much should you realistically invest if you're unsure of your return? Classic Displays has some key indicators to help you measure the ROI of your commercial Christmas display, ensuring your festive efforts are as worthwhile as they are dazzling.
Christmas is a time of giving, and it's only natural to want a spectacular display that captures the holiday spirit. However, balancing creativity with financial sense is key. Let’s dive into how you can measure the ROI of your commercial Christmas display and make the most of your investment.
One of the major ways you can measure your ROI for your commercial Christmas display is to track the overall turnout of attendees and compare it to previous years. Then, you can determine what may have been the inspiration behind the increase in turnout by looking at where you invested your time and money.
Here are some clear ways you can track your turnout:
If tickets are required for your Christmas display event, you can compare the number of tickets sold/scanned last year and compare it to this year. However, if your event is free, you can use counters at the entrance to track the overall foot traffic.
Website traffic allows you to analyze the visits to your event's website over both years. You can use tools like Google Analytics to show you how many users have visited and interacted with event pages.
Also, online reservations allow you to compare RSVPs, bookings, or sign-ups across both years if your event utilizes these systems. Otherwise, you can also track the turnout with QR codes on your display to track scans and engagement.
You can track likes, shares, comments, and event RSVPs on platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. You can even use unique hashtags to monitor mentions and participation levels!
You can utilize people counters, such as sensors or cameras at the entrances and exits to get an idea of how many attendees came. Or you can use Wi-Fi tracking to measure the number of unique devices present at your event.
A great way to track your turnout is to conduct post-event surveys asking attendees if they also visited the previous year and if they plan to continue to visit in the future. You can further incentivize participation with giveaways or discounts if you choose.
You can coordinate with local businesses and/or sponsors to share their insight on customer traffic, provided they're in proximity to your event.
Request that your staff or volunteers try to estimate crowd density during peak hours and compare it with the metrics from the previous year.
If you're permitted to do so, you can use drones to capture aerial views of the crowd to assess the turnout visually and compare footage year-over-year.
Review local news or media coverage for crowd estimates provided by third-party sources. Don't be afraid to reach out to outlets ahead of time and let them know your event is going to be worth covering!
Perhaps one of the biggest ROIs, other than tangible profit, is seeing where your commercial Christmas events have improved from the previous year. Oftentimes, the more you improve your event each year, the more people will want to attend. To find out how you can improve your Christmas display, there are a few things you should consider:
Reach out to your local community through social media or targeted surveys to see what they’re looking for in a commercial Christmas display. Maybe they want giant
Christmas decorations, maybe they want a more interactive experience, or maybe they want activities that are great for kids and adults alike.
Maybe last year there was no access to hot drinks or snacks, which left your event lackluster for hungry and chilly patrons. You can send out questionnaires with multiple-choice questions or put out a social media post asking for pointed feedback. That way, you can get an idea as you aim to improve if the community at large is enjoying the event.
This isn’t something you need to do right before or after the event either - you can do temperature checks leading up to the season to better prepare yourself for what your attendees are looking for. Checking in early on could help you make some preemptive changes that will help improve your ROI from the previous year.
One of perhaps the clearest indicators that you’ve received a good ROI is if your budget has increased enough that you can propose new elements for your display. We get it - it can feel a little tacky to talk about money. But as you continue to host Christmas events with large commercial displays, your ROI will allow you to continually expand as needed each year, offering bigger and greater visuals.
Say you started with just light displays. Now, this year, you’re able to buy a few bigger ticket items, maybe something like our Mosby Snowman or The Toque. If your budget expands each year and allows you to continue to grow your display, then you know you’re getting a good return on your investment.
This might seem like an odd point, but by making your events more accessible, you’re increasing the ability for people to attend. The more people can attend, the more you’re going to get a bigger ROI.
Accessibility is important because it ensures your events are inclusive, allowing people with physical limitations to attend. While you may be concerned about the cost of accessibility, it’s also essential to keep in mind that you’re opening your event up to a broader list of attendees by making things accessible.
Even if individuals don’t have specific disabilities, having things like park furniture, bins, and bike racks just makes your events more enjoyable. It allows people to sit and enjoy their treats or just have a rest, it allows them to have plenty of places to dispose of waste, and it also allows those who prefer to attend by bike to attend safely.
If you’ve had the ability to make your event more accessible, you can expect that your ROI is going to be bigger in the future.
Classic Displays has an entire array of site furniture you can add to your display to make it more accessible. However, here are some additional accessibility elements you can consider for your next display:
Wheelchair-accessible pathways
Accessible picnic tables
Benches with armrests for support
Sensory-friendly zones
Accessible viewing platforms
Braille signage for display information
Tactile maps of the display area
Rest areas with heaters
Mobility scooter rentals or charging stations
Inclusive play equipment for children
Non-slip mats on pathways
Low-height interactive displays
Wide entrances and exits
Audio description devices for visually impaired visitors
Quiet zones for sensory-sensitive individuals
OK, let’s just get down to brass tax. It’s time to actually discuss the numbers, and by numbers, we mean money. There are a lot of indicators that can help identify a good ROI, but money is what it comes down to.
To get a good idea of your overall ROI, you must break down the following key factors:
The first step is to calculate how much you spent on your display and site furniture. This needs to include everything from the initial design, production, installation, maintenance, and the projected cost of removal. You can use invoices, receipts, or even general estimates if you must, but it’s better to have specific numbers.
Next, you need to calculate the benefits of your display and site furniture. The overall benefit of the collective display is the revenue or profit you expect it to generate. This can be measured by utilizing sales data (perhaps you have a retail display or plan to sell items such as tickets, food, etc.), customer surveys, and other analytical tools. Here are some considerations to keep in mind to measure your ROI:
Sales Volume: Measure the number of units sold or the total revenue generated from your products due to the impact of your display.
Sales Lift: Evaluate the increase in sales that occurs after introducing your display, compared to prior sales or scenarios without it.
Conversion Rate: Track the percentage of customers who purchase your products after engaging with your display.
Customer Retention: Identify how many customers return for repeat purchases after being influenced by your display.
Customer Satisfaction: Assess how your display enhances customer satisfaction with your products and overall shopping experience.
Originally founded in 1977, Classic Displays started as a small operation that designed and produced Christmas holiday displays for local businesses. For the last 46 years, we’ve grown into a multidimensional company that now serves 350+ municipalities, 150+ BIA groups, and other commercial properties. You can trust that we have the knowledge and expertise to help you develop the best commercial Christmas holiday display that’s sure to get you a good ROI.
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