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Mississauga residents might see more pops of red throughout the city after a unanimous motion recently passed in city council encouraging the display of the Canadian flag.
It’s a timely decision that comes as Sunday marks National Flag of Canada Day and the 61st anniversary since the current flag was first raised.
At a Feb. 11 council meeting, Deputy Mayor John Kovac brought forward the motion to encourage residents with foreign flags on their property to add a Canadian flag alongside it “as a gesture of pride.”
Details of the motion described the city as a multicultural community and the Canadian flag as a symbol of unity, with optional additions of the flag being recognized as “a voluntary act of pride and respect.”
The motion also concluded that the Civic Centre clock tower would be lit white and red on Sunday in recognition of National Flag of Canada Day, said Mayor Carolyn Parrish at the meeting.
“This motion serves solely as an expression of Council’s intent to promote unity, respect and national pride within Mississauga’s diverse communities,” she said, adding city staff would look at raising awareness of flag etiquette and that the motion is a voluntary practice.
Kovac said 56 per cent of the city’s population are people born outside of Canada — a diversity he wishes to honour with the maple leaf’s symbol.
“It’s also important that we always remember where we are and be proud of the fact that we have a flag that unites all of us,” he said.
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The idea for the motion came about after residents in his ward noticed an “apparent lack of Canadian flags” in the city, said Kovac.
News of the motion has caught “red Canadian flag fire” with lots of residents talking about it, he said.
“I guess people are feeling the thirst and the need to have more of that pride shown,” he said, adding the motion does not force residents with foreign flags to add a Canadian one.
Instead the choice is voluntary for residents, said Kovac. He said he would personally not stand for any residents turning on one another to question why someone doesn’t have a maple leaf on display.
“If they do, they’re going to have to hear from me because I’m not going to like that or tolerate that. And I’m going to defend the person who’s being gone after,” he said.
It’s also quite simple to get a flag for free for residents in Mississauga or beyond, said Kovac.
Residents simply need to visit their local MP’s office, where flags are available for people to come pick up, he said.