Flagpole maintenance in Canada: checks, flag care and disposal

A flagpole needs little upkeep, but it needs some: the parts that move wear, the bolts that hold it can work loose, and the flag itself wears out in the wind. In Canada, the care of the flag also has an etiquette of its own. Canadian Heritage describes when a flag is worn and how it is disposed of, and the Gouvernement du Québec does the same for the flag of Québec.

Checks on the pole

Canadian flagpole makers put maintenance in the owner’s hands. The limited warranty of Flag Outlet, a flagpole maker in Coquitlam, B.C., makes the purchaser responsible for reasonable maintenance and adjustments to keep the pole in good working condition, including tightening the nuts on the base and adjusting pulleys and cables, and excludes damage caused by failure to maintain them. Typical checks:

• Base: bolts and nuts on the shoe or anchor, and the concrete and flash collar around the base.
• Top: the truck and pulley turn freely, and the finial is tight.
• Halyard: the rope or cable is not frayed or stiff; snaps and clips close properly.
• Internal halyard: the door locks, and the counterweight and ring run freely.
• Pole: no dents, cracks or leaning, which can point to a footing lifted by frost.

After storms and in spring, after a winter of ice and freeze-thaw, is a natural time to look. Faults and their causes are described in the guide to flagpole repair.

Cleaning the pole

According to Flag Outlet, an anodized aluminum finish is hard and corrosion resistant, while a satin brushed finish discolours over time. It describes cleaning with soap and water, to which a mild household acid such as lemon juice or vinegar can be added, but not ammonia, TSP or soda, and says a coat of car wax or a silicone spray helps protect the aluminum. Near the sea and near salted roads, salt deposits build up faster.

Caring for the flag

On Parliament Hill, according to Canadian Heritage, a flag removed from its pole is dried, folded according to the folding protocol and stored. The flags are not changed in snowstorms or high winds. For a private flag, habits that extend its life include:

• taking it in during storms and high winds
• letting a wet flag dry before storing it
• trimming and re-hemming a frayed fly before the fraying spreads
• keeping the flag clear of branches, walls and wires that it can rub against

Canadian Heritage lists among the things a flag should never be: flown in a discoloured or tattered condition. The Gouvernement du Québec says the same of the flag of Québec: it is never flown torn or aged, and a torn flag is replaced by one in perfect condition.

When a flag is worn

According to Canadian Heritage, a flag is considered worn when:

• its colour has faded
• it has developed a hole
• the outermost seam at the fly has frayed

The Gouvernement du Québec counts on a lifespan of three to six months for an institutional outdoor flag, and its guidance mentions keeping a sufficient reserve of flags. More in the guide to flagpole lifespan.

Disposing of a worn flag

A worn flag is disposed of in a dignified manner. Canadian Heritage describes two ways:

• Natural fibres – wool, cotton or linen – are burned in a dignified manner, privately, without ceremony or public attention.
• Synthetic flags – nylon or polyester – are not burned, because of environmental damage and the fire hazard. They are torn into strips, each of a single colour, so that the pieces no longer resemble a flag, and placed in a bag for disposal. The shreds are not reused.

In Ottawa, Beechwood Cemetery, the National Cemetery of Canada, runs a program to retire national and provincial flags respectfully. For the flag of Québec, the Gouvernement du Québec describes burning it with dignity, without ceremony, or cutting it respectfully into strips sent for recycling, the pieces not being reused.

Folding and storing

Canada has its own official procedure for folding the National Flag: folded twice in half lengthwise and then four times across, by two, seven or nine people. According to Canadian Heritage, the flag is never folded into a triangle. A folded flag stored dry and away from light keeps its colour. More in the guide to flags in mourning.