TAMRMS#: B06
7.4
REQUEST FOR DECISION
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C-CAO-19 Flag Display and Commemorative Lighting Policy Update
Presented by: Cory Sinclair, Manager, Corporate Communications and Design, Communications and Public Affairs
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RECOMMENDED MOTION(S)
recommendation
That the Standing Committee of the Whole recommend to Council that Policy C-CAO-19 Flag Display and Commemorative Lighting attached to the May 12, 2026, agenda report entitled “C-CAO-19 Flag Display and Commemorative Lighting Policy Update”
be approved.
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SUMMARY
Administration has updated the language of the policy to apply to all City infrastructure that has the appropriate equipment installed, not just St. Albert Place. This includes the Children’s Bridge which will have LED lights installed as part of its capital project.
Canada Day (July 1) and Alberta Day (September 1) were also added to the list of days that the City will recognize with LED lighting every year. Mental Health Awareness Week was moved from October to May to coincide with the national recognition week.
ALIGNMENT TO COUNCIL DIRECTION OR MANDATORY STATUTORY PROVISION
On March 17, 2026, Council approved the following motion:
AR-26-009
That the Seniors’ Advisory Committee and Youth Advisory Committee are requested feedback on the Flag Display and Commemorative Lighting Policy for recommended revisions and the feedback is brought to May SCOW meeting, to discuss the topic.
On September 16, 2025 Council approved the following motion:
AR-25-375
That Policy C-CAO-19 Flag Display and Commemorative Lighting, attached to the agenda report dated September 16, 2025 entitled “Amendment to Policy C-CAO-19 Flag Display and Commemorative Lighting”, be approved with the addition of Canada Day.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The Flag Policy was updated in 2025 to include commemorative LED lighting. The original policy included twenty days the City will acknowledge with colour LED lighting. This policy amendment proposes adding two more days, July 1 and September 1, to this list. The remaining 334 days in the year are available for St. Albert residents and not-for-profit organizations to request special lighting.
Flexibility and community responsiveness are key facets of the policy. Administration’s intent is to balance pre-determined days specified by the policy for commemorative lighting with as many opportunities as possible for residents and community organizations to submit requests for commemorative lighting for dates that have meaning for the community.
Administration can light municipal infrastructure on days which are not stipulated in the Policy or for which no public requests have been received. Administration will keep a list of days which have been requested in previous years as well as other days suggested by Council or Council Committees and will light the building accordingly when there are no competing resident requests on that given day.
Any conflicting requests that follow the guidelines outlined on the City website will be managed on a first-come, first-served basis unless otherwise directed by the CAO or Council.
STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS OR ENGAGEMENT
Administration met with the Seniors Advisory Committee (SAC) on March 20, 2026, and with the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) on April 1, 2026 to gather their feedback on the Flag Display and Commemorative Lighting Policy. Both Committees expressed their appreciation for the lighting program, indicating that it was good for the community.
The Committees suggested additional dates that could be commemorated and that Administration undertake additional promotion of the program to increase awareness among residents. Those dates are included in Attachment Two, which is a colour-coded list of commemorative days showing the policy-directed days in blue, the days identified by the Administrative Directive in green, and the days identified by the public and the Council committees in various colours.
Administration recommends that only the days in blue be included in the policy to maintain as much flexibility as possible to accommodate community requests.
IMPACTS OF RECOMMENDATION(S)
Financial:
None at this time.
Compliance & Legal:
None at this time.
Program or Service:
None at this time.
Organizational:
None at this time.
Risks
N/A
ALIGNMENT TO PRIORITIES IN COUNCIL’S STRATEGIC PLAN
Initiative aligned with Strategic Plan:
Not Applicable
ALIGNMENT TO LEVELS OF SERVICE DELIVERY
The addition of LED lighting is being added to the appropriate service level and will be brought to Council for approval as part of that process.
IMPACTS OF ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
ALTERNATIVE 1:
That the Standing Committee of the Whole recommends Council approve the updated policy as further amended by the Committee.
Financial:
None at this time.
Compliance & Legal:
None at this time.
Program or Service:
None at this time.
Organizational:
None at this time.
Risks
N/A
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Report Date: May 12, 2026
Author(s): Cory Sinclair
Department: Communications and Public Affairs
Department Director: Paul Pearson
Managing Director: Diane McMordie
Chief Administrative Officer: William Fletcher