Flags are flown at half-mast to commemorate significant dates such as Remembrance Day, or to observe a solemn event such as the death of a City employee.
The flags at City properties shall be flown at half-mast on:
- The death of the Mayor.
- The death of a Member of Council.
- The death of a current City of Pickering employee.
- The death of a former Mayor.
- The death of the Chair of the Regional Municipality of Durham.
- On the direction of the majority of Members of Council.
In accordance with Federal and Provincial protocol, flags will also be flown at half-mast on:
- The death of the Sovereign or a member of the Royal Family related to the Sovereign (spouse, son or daughter, father, mother, brother, sister), the Governor General, the Prime Minister, a former Governor General, a former Prime Minister, or a Federal Cabinet Minister.
- The death of the Lieutenant Governor, the Premier of Ontario or another person similarly honoured by the Province of Ontario.
- The death of the local Member of Parliament or local Member of Provincial Parliament.
Flags will be flown at half-mast at all Fire Halls in accordance with para-military protocols on:
- The death of a member of Pickering Fire Services (retired or presently employed).
- Any emergency services personnel who have fallen in the line of duty.
- To commemorate September 11 and recognize fallen firefighters.
- The death of Canadian Armed Forces personnel who have fallen in the line of duty.
- On the direction of the Fire Chief in consultation with the Chief Administrative Officer.
And flags will also be flown at half-mast, in recognition of the following dates:
- April 28, the National Day of Mourning for Persons Killed or Injured in the Workplace.
- June 23, the National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism.
- Last Sunday in September, Police and Peace Officers' National Memorial Day, unless half-masting occurs near the place where a memorial is being observed, then half-masting can occur according to the prescribed order of service, until sunset.
- November 11, Remembrance Day. The flag is to be flown at half-mast from 11:00 am to coincide with the start of the ceremony at the National War Memorial.
- December 6, the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.