The City of Guelph courtesy flagpole is located in front of City Hall. The City also has lighting that can be changed for special events to light up Market Square.
Upcoming Events
Flag Raisings and custom lightings of Market Square (and other City Facilities or assets) are intended to encourage respect and diversity in Guelph, additionally to show Guelph’s support of a campaign to increase education and awareness or call for community action.
They are not intended to support contributions of a particular culture, community or country where the country’s flag or flag colours are used, nor intended to honour national or independence days, even if the representation of the nation’s contribution is recognized by other levels of government.
Eligibility to Fly a Courtesy Flag or Light up Market Square
The courtesy flagpole and custom lightings at Market Square (other City facilities or assets) will:
- Celebrate a non-profit or charitable organization’s event or awareness campaign (could be a fundraising event) that are important to the residents of Guelph,
- Be requested by an organization or group that has a Guelph based office/branch, a Guelph association and/or Guelph based address, and
- Be associated with a local initiative, event or activity
- OR recognize an official visit to Guelph by a Canadian head of state, by Canadian Federal or Provincial government representative, or by an Indigenous Nation.
Requests will not be approved for:
- Political parties or organizations, or fundraising events that are political in nature.
- Religious organizations, celebration of religious events, or fundraising events that are religious in nature or benefit a religious purpose.
- Commercial entities, celebrations of corporate events or events recognizing corporate sponsorship, except for professional sports teams visiting or playing in Guelph.
- An event, awareness campaign or group that contravenes the City strategic plan, values, policies or bylaws.
- A group that may support, promote or advocate hatred, violence, racism, or discrimination, or condone, encourage or exhibit obvious indifference to unlawful behaviour, criticizes or disparages a City program, service, facility, event, or employee.
- Flags of foreign nations, or any flags which include the depiction of foreign nations or county flag to represent an event, national days, or anniversary of special occasions.
- A geopolitical event or current national or international conflict, major world event or natural disasters.
Any conflicts or uncertainty about eligibility will be referred to the General Manager of Culture and Recreation for final approval. No further appeal process will be applicable.
Courtesy Flag Raising Conditions
- Courtesy flags will be raised and displayed for one week. If no other courtesy flag requests are made for the following week, the existing flag can be flown for more than one week, if specified on the request form.
- Flags need to be dropped off at Service Guelph at least five days in advance of the scheduled date, with instructions regarding how the flag is to be flown.
- Courtesy flags will be raised and lowered during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday) when staff and equipment resources are available.
- Flags must be picked up from Service Guelph within five business days following the event.
Market Square Lighting
- The lights are programmed using a colour wheel and we can do several different shades of lights, but the colour may not be exactly what is being requested. We do our best to get as close as possible to the requested colour.
- Lights will be active from dusk until dawn on the selected date.