NS School Division Says Only Canadian and Provincial Flags Allowed on School Flagpoles

A Pride flag is seen above Twickenham, London, in a May 2023 file photo. Mike Egerton/PA Wire

A school division in Nova Scotia is restricting the types of flags that will be permitted to fly outside its schools.

The South Shore Regional Centre for Education (SSRCE), which represents 23 English-language schools providing education from pre-primary to Grade 12, said flags that are non-governmental will be taken off flagpoles and displayed inside schools.

SSRCE said the regional decision was made to ensure flags are “better cared for” and “protected from damage.”

Schools will still be permitted to fly other flags inside, including in the gym, foyer, and cafeteria.

Spokesperson Ashley Gallant said flags flying outside of schools often get damaged or ripped and that members of the community have complained about the condition of school flags.

“Additionally, maintaining multiple flags is quite time-consuming and costly,” she said.

Peter Day, head of the provincial teachers’ union, said some of his members have expressed concern about the policy as it will restrict flags such as the pride flag from being flown outside of schools.

“The teachers that have reached out, they’re quite upset because they understand how important symbols are in our school for our kids. And when these symbols are taken down, the kids can feel isolated and vulnerable,” Day said.

Nova Scotia isn’t the only province where the issue of flags at schools is being discussed.

In February, a school board in Manitoba was challenged over its policy enacted in September 2024 restricting schools from flying anything but Canadian, provincial, or school flags.

The Mountain View School Division board in Dauphin voted to keep its policy despite the challenge.

It also voted to reinstate the singing of God Save the King in classrooms. The policy is dictated in provincial legislation but had not been enforced.

In June 2024, the Toronto-area Dufferin-Peel Catholic School Board rejected a proposal to allow non-governmental flags like the pride flag to be displayed on school flagpoles.

Trustees voted down the motion 6-3.

Two Alberta communities also voted last year to keep flag poles and crosswalks neutral.

Residents in Westlock and Barrhead separately petitioned their councils to create a neutrality bylaw to prohibit the flying of non-governmental flags on municipal property.

Both communities also sought to keep crosswalks neutral, in the traditional white ladder design.

The municipalities opted to hold plebiscites over the bylaw, with residents voting in favour of a neutrality bylaw in both communities.

The Canadian Press and Carolina Avendano contributed to this report.