The Office of Ceremonies & Events is responsible for all aspects of the use of and the lowering of the Canadian and University flags on campus as required.
About the Lowering of the Flag
The University of Toronto Scarborough has three main flags in three locations on campus.
The Canadian flag is located atop of the science wing (SW), and is subject to specific protocol as dictated by the Canadian Government (Canadian Heritage).
The University of Toronto flags are situated in front of the Arts & Administration Building (AA), and the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre, and are subject to university protocol. On special occasions, the University of Toronto flag is replaced with other flags such as the Pride and Trans flags.
The Ceremonies Office arranges for the lowering of the flag for events such as the passing of a member of the campus community and occasions of national significance.
Effective April 23rd, 2020, all flag lowering announcements will be posted here. Notices will no longer be sent to campus via email.
Pride and Trans flags are being raised on June 1st to celebrate Pride at U of T Scarborough (UTSC)
The More Colour, More Pride flag and the Trans flag will be flown on campus for the month of June to celebrate Pride at U of T Scarborough (UTSC).
For the third year, UTSC is proud to raise the “more colour, more pride” flag which adds black and brown stripes to the top of the standard six-colour flag, and is meant to recognize people of colour in the LGBTQ+ community. We are proud to centre and affirm the experiences of Black, Indigenous and racialized people in the LGBTQ+ community. The additional stripes are a sign of UTSC’s commitment to being intentionally inclusive, and representing more voices and experiences in the LGBTQ+ community.
As we celebrate Pride Month we are thinking of our trans and queer students, many of whom are experiencing increased isolation and are away from the communities that most support them. We are also thinking deeply about the Black Trans & Queer people who were instrumental in the Stonewall Riots. As we are unable to celebrate and learn together as we normally would, we encourage everyone to learn more about the Stonewall Riots and the Toronto Bathhouse Raids, which benefited from the actions and legacy of the Civil Rights Movement.
Contact edio.utsc@utoronto.ca with any questions about upcoming Pride initiatives at UTSC.
More Pride activities can be found here: uoft.me/pridecalendar
All flags (Canada, Ontario, U of T) are at half-mast until further notice to honour and commemorate the 215 Indigenous children whose lives were lost at the Kamloops Indian Residential School
Statement from President Meric Gertler regarding the discovery of the remains of 215 Indigenous children in Kamloops, B.C.
May 31, 2021
People across Canada and well beyond are struggling to absorb the news that the remains of 215 children have been discovered in an unmarked burial site at the former Indian Residential School in Kamloops, B.C.
On behalf of the University of Toronto, I would like to acknowledge the dignity of each one of these 215 children, their families, and their communities. I would also like to acknowledge the impact of the news on the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation, other Indigenous communities whose children’s remains are among those discovered, all survivors of Canada’s Indian Residential School system, and Indigenous members of the U of T community. It comes amidst the continuing trauma inflicted by residential schools as well as ongoing concerns about the disappearance of many Indigenous people across the country.
The news is absolutely heartbreaking. It is part of an unconscionable history of injustice against Indigenous peoples in Canada extending from first contact to the present day. As the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) noted in its Final Report, “No Canadian can take pride in this country’s treatment of Aboriginal peoples, and, for that reason, all Canadians have a critical role to play in advancing reconciliation in ways that honour and revitalize the nation-to-nation Treaty relationship.”
For our part, the University of Toronto continues to implement the Calls to Action in Wecheehetowin: Answering the Call, the Report of our Steering Committee in response to the TRC, an ongoing process of reconciliation to which we remain deeply committed. This includes the excellent work of U of T’s Office of Indigenous Initiatives and of so many Elders, faculty, staff, students, alumni and community partners across our three campuses in the areas of teaching and learning, student experience, faculty and staff recruitment and engagement, and community-based research.
This morning, flags across our three campuses have been lowered to half-mast, as part of a nation-wide expression of grief in acknowledgement of the 215 children whose lives were lost at Kamloops. To the Indigenous members of the U of T community, if you need help at this time, please do not hesitate to reach out and access the supports available to you through the University, through Indigenous student services, My SSP or the Employee and Family Assistance Program.
Meric S. Gertler
President, University of Toronto
All flags on the three campuses will be lowered to half-mast on Wednesday, April 28, 2021 to observe the National Day of Mourning for workers killed or injured on the job
The National Day of Mourning, officially recognized by the federal government in 1991, is held annually on April 28 in approximately 100 countries around the world and has been adopted by the AFL-CIO and the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions.
The University of Toronto will participate in this National Day of Mourning by lowering the flags in all locations across each campus, and through this act affirms its commitment to the promotion of health and safety for all members of the university community and to the provision of a safe and healthy work and study environment.
All flags across the three campuses will continue to be flown at half-mast until sunset on Saturday, April 17, 2021 in honour of His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh
All flags at the University will continue to be flown at half-mast until sunset on Saturday, April 17, 2021, the day of the funeral of His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh. The flags will be returned to full staff the morning of Monday, April 19.
All flags across the three campuses are at half-mast in honour of His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, who passed away on April 9, 2021
All flags across the three campuses will be flown at half-mast from Wednesday, April 9, 2021 until sunset on the day of the funeral or memorial service of His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh.