Alberta's new school flag rules will let schools display the flag of Vatican City on school property at any time of year, while First Nations and Métis flags will be limited to a few set dates and to the inside of school buildings.

The Flag Display Regulation, released by the province on Friday, requires every school to fly the Canadian and Alberta flags and bars most others. It takes effect Jan. 4, 2027, and applies to public, separate, francophone, charter and accredited independent schools, the Government of Alberta said in a news release.

"The Canadian and Alberta flags are symbols that unite us and reflect the values we share. These changes will provide a clear and consistent approach to flag displays in schools, while keeping the focus where it belongs: on student learning and success," Education and Childcare Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said in the release.

Vatican flag on the permitted list

Section 4 of the regulation, signed by Nicolaides as Ministerial Order 026/2026, lists four kinds of flags that may be displayed on school property with no limit on dates or length of display: flags depicting an official Alberta emblem, "the flag of Vatican City," Alberta civic and municipal flags, and sports team flags.

Vatican City is the independent city-state that is home to the Pope and the seat of the Roman Catholic Church. Its flag is the only flag tied to a religion that the regulation names. No other faith's flag appears in it.

The regulation defines school property broadly to include school buildings, grounds, equipment and furnishings, and any website or social media account a school board controls.

Neither the regulation nor the province's release explains why the Vatican flag was included. The release lists several of the other permitted flags but does not mention it. The Vatican flag was also on the permitted list in a draft of the regulation reported in August.

Limits on other flags

Under the regulation, flags of First Nations, the Métis Settlements General Council and Métis settlements may be displayed only inside school buildings, and only on National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21), the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Sept. 30) and Louis Riel Day (Nov. 16), or the school day immediately before or after. The Royal Union Flag may be displayed on Commonwealth Day and Victoria Day.

Foreign national flags and Indigenous flags may also be displayed inside a school for up to 14 consecutive school days when they relate directly to a course or program of study, or during a formal visit by a foreign official or an Indigenous leader, and for the length of a celebration or ceremony.

Any other flag needs approval from the Ministry of Education and Childcare after a written request from the school board. The province said the display must not be a political, social or ideological statement by the board and must meet at least one of five criteria: it represents the school population and community, is part of existing infrastructure, reflects school identity, marks a commemorative day or observance, or is part of a school event.

"It cannot be something that seeks to promote or advocate a social, political, or ideological cause," Nicolaides said of those requests, CTV News reported.

The rules do not apply to flags worn by a person or displayed on their personal items.

Why the province made the change

The regulation stems from An Act to Remove Politics and Ideology from Classrooms and Amend the Education Act, which was introduced as Bill 25 and received royal assent May 14. The act requires schools to display no flags other than the Canadian and Alberta flags unless the minister permits others by regulation.

When the bill was introduced, Nicolaides said in a March 31 release that "these changes strengthen accountability, reinforce neutrality and respect, and make it clear that politics and ideology have no place in Alberta classrooms." The province said at the time that exemptions could be considered for flags that reflect Alberta's heritage and history.

The flag rules were first set to take effect Sept. 1 but were delayed.

Nicole Buchanan, board chair of Red Deer Public School Division, thanked the province in the release for providing "clarity on these requirements." Alberta Teachers' Association president Jason Schilling said academic rigour is already demanded in Alberta schools, while NDP education critic Amanda Chapman said, "Albertans are worried about overcrowded classrooms and increasingly complex student needs, not policing flags," according to CTV.

The regulation expires May 29, 2029, unless the province renews it after a review.

Share this article
The link has been copied!