Alberta’s government has announced new rules on when, how and what flags can be displayed at schools starting in 2027.
The government said in a news release Friday that the flags of Canada and Alberta must be flown outside schools during the school year.
“Let’s teach our children to celebrate our amazing country and province,” Premier Danielle Smith said in a social media post.
The new rules also permit some other flags — including the Franco-Albertan flag, municipal flags, flags related to sports teams and the Vatican City flag — to be displayed on school grounds.
Others, including First Nations and Métis Settlement flags, foreign national flags and the Royal Union Flag, can only be displayed on specified days or on official occasions and must not stay up for more than 14 consecutive days.
The government said no other flags can be displayed without permission from the province.
Get daily National news
The rules say school boards can apply for exemptions but only for flags that don’t “constitute a political, social or ideological statement.”
Those flags must also meet other conditions, such as reflecting a school’s identity.
Asked whether the government was pre-emptively banning any flags, such as the Pride flag, Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said in an email that any requests from school boards would be handled on a case-by-case basis.
The rules also apply to websites and social media accounts, but not to individuals or personal items.
Both the Edmonton Public School Board and the Calgary Board of Education said they were reviewing the new rules.
Jason Schilling, the president of the provincial teachers union, said the government seemed to be creating an elaborate set of rules for a problem he doesn’t think exists.
- Potential school support worker strike in N.S. puts families in limbo
- Ontario begins probe of eight private career colleges over alleged OSAP ‘fraud’
- Thousands of school support workers in Nova Scotia could strike next week
- Why are dance clubs disappearing? Because half of Gen Z avoids dancing for fear of humiliation
“At a time when schools are struggling to meet increasingly complex student needs, adding another layer of bureaucracy is the last thing they need,” said Schilling, with the Alberta Teachers’ Association.
Schilling also questioned why sports team flags could be flown all year while First Nations flags were being restricted, saying Indigenous students and communities deserve recognition and respect year-round.
“The flags displayed in our schools can be important symbols of identity and belonging, and government policy should recognize that,” he said.
Nicolaides said in a statement that new policy was meant to provide a consistent approach to flags in schools, “while keeping the focus where it belongs: on student learning and success.”
The changes stem from a bill Smith’s government passed last year that seeks to remove “politics and ideology” from classrooms.
Opposition NDP education critic Amanda Chapman also criticized the rules Friday. She said Albertans want action on overcrowded classrooms, not flag policing.
“None of the (United Conservative Party’s) culture war nonsense helps a single student or teacher,” Chapman said in a statement.
The new rules begin Jan. 4, 2027. They apply to public, separate, francophone, charter and accredited independent schools.
What is special about the Vatican City flag? If that were not included, maybe there could be some modicum of logic!
The UPC is pathetic.
Good I approve this move. Only flags should ever be Alberta & Canada.
I would like to plant a Canadian flag on a 10′ pole in premi’s azz. as i jerk with a vibrator in my sphincter
Danielle’s turds are smarter than any leftie
The most inclusive flag is one that represents EVERYBODY!!! Not special interest groups.
Just because those obsessed with the sexuality of children, like Edo, want racialized pride flags everywhere, doesn’t mean Smith should placate the insane, demented, idiots.
I would like to plant a Canadian flag on a 10′ pole in premi’s azz.
flags have been used to celebrate and commemorate many events and occasions.hoisting the oilers’ flag during play-offs , and so many other moments.
just because the homophobes are against the pride flag, doesn’t mean smith should placate the homophobes, xenophobes, racists
How will my children’s teachers keep the focus on ‘identity’? I know many kids can’t read or write, but how will they get by if they aren’t reminded daily that there are, at minimum, 37 genders?
more of dani’s attempts to please her MAGA alt right cult.
as if it isn’t enough to make half a million albertas show the world how stupid they are.
For decades it was on canada and provincial flags ! We r going back to common sense ! Don’t like it , go east !!!
@359pm, did you text comment with extra large cucumber in your azz?
This should the policy in Ontario!!!!
Good, wise decision
This is an issue why? Teachers are not trying to turn your kids into other kinds of kids. As a teacher I would rather your child read and be kind. Both of those values are not instilled in most kids from their parents. Halloween is coming up when most kids aged 5-10 have watched gore/violent movies, use violent language and actions. All because parents want mini versions of themselves. A buddy that does and says the things they do. Saying the F-word is cute according to this generation of parents. Kids are not adults. I agree kids do not need ideologies because they cannot understand them, but parents need to also parent then. Can I as a teacher, without consequence, tell parents that their child is a terror and they suck as a parent? I have kids swear at me, kids that attack me, kids that tell me that they cannot play with another gender, kids that bring weapons and toys, kids that talk about videos and content that back in the day was called PG 13 or R when they are 6 years old now. Kids that cannot pay attention because parents give them phones and tablets, because the parents want to be on their phones instead of parent. I am tired as a teacher being a proper parent to kids because their parents suck. I am not trying to turn your kid into a different gender, no matter what tiktok people or comment sections tell you. Get off social media and be a parent.
Good decision. Nobody is ‘special’ whether you are Gay or First Nation, Meti or whatever.
National and Provincial Flags only.
How many of you home ophobes are secretly g ay? 🤣
Good. This is a consequence of allowing left-wing nuts to promote various political agenda that devalue Canada and Alberta has a wonderful place to live. My son, attended a Calgary University where a Russian teaching teaching assistant proudly had Russians flags and posters of various Communist heroes on his office walls. He was extremely hostile to any student he suspected of having Ukrainian decent.
Schilling give it a rest for God’s sake,enough of socialist ideas
Not sure what exactly the problems flags are causing for ordinary people you ucp crooks.
Its about time!! The lgbiq-mouse community think they can deface anything for their disgusting cause!!
Seperation of church, and state, with public tax dollars…… its simple!
No ideology is special, or an exception!!!
Sep
Just stop all the introduction of NEW RULES, LAWS ALREADY! Getting people riled up again. Federal and provincial flags & that ends it!!! Then not offending anyone.
Alberta starting to sound better and better by the day.
I’m not sure how to feel about the Vatican flag. Yes, technically it is a Catholic school board but they have allowed the infiltration of the gender ideology just as much as the public school boards.
The Vatican also echoes that ideology stance. It’s a conflict of true religious principles versus the watered down “modern” version of “love thy neighbour”.
For those that are complaining about the Vatican City flag being displayed, remember that there is a Catholic School Board and that is why it is allowed. Pride flags are an ideology not a religion (although some worship it).
Good. Should only allow the official Canada and Alberta (or other provincial flag according to the province) flags to fly at any municipal/government property.
And restore the crosswalks to the standard zebra pattern.
Put those gay flags away! Let those innocent children learn and play at school. Put those trans flags away! Teachers are not doctors, they are not medical professionals , they have no psychiatric degrees to try and tell little Jimmy that he’s actually little Jenny. Its school! For learning! not for gaying up the kid’s .
Lol, “small government” folks at it again. Please Mrs Smith, make more rules.
Allowing the Vatican City flag; a religious symbol, while declaring a Pride flag to be an unacceptable social or ideological statement undercuts the province’s claim that they are keeping classrooms free of ideology. This is obviously not about neutrality or keeping classrooms free of ideology. Flags are literally inherently ideological and political tools to represent a group/nations’ beliefs and values.
Need to put an end to profane foul mouth out in the open any type of signs as well.
Great. I am tired of seeing the made up Metis flag, and the treaty 8 flag being displayed at the school, as if they should be as important as the Canada or Alberta flag.
Time for the teachers association to realise they work for the public, and their focus should be on teaching, not their political views.
Oh no, the fragile alphabet soup group will need a safe space after hearing this logical, sane, and fantastic news!!
Bye bye garbage flags.of you are trans, just move already you squids
The students are not more complex the adults are now more complex with their own agenda. Let the kids be kids there is more than enough time to mess with their ideology after they graduate.