Community Flag Pole Coming to Norwich

Friday, 12 January 2024 10:23

The list of pre-approved flags for the community flag pole includes the Pride Flag, the Every Child Matters Flag, and the Netherlands Flag.

NORWICH - The Pride Flag will be able to fly in Norwich for one week this June for Pride Month.

CAO Lee Robinson says Council approved a flag protocol back in December.

"It included the installation of a community flag pole at the Norwich Community Centre and it will fly the Township flag unless a group comes forward to the Township and request that their flag be flown."

The approved flags will be able to fly for one week, once a year.

During the council meeting earlier this week, Robinson says Council approved a list of 10 flags that will not require council's approval if someone sends in a request.

"The following flags were pre-approved: the Netherlands Flag, the United Empire Loyalists Flag, the Truth and Reconciliation Day Flag, the United Nations Flag, the Pride Flag, the Remembrance Day Flag - Lest We Forget, flags for service clubs in the Township, minor sports organizations including the Norwich Merchants, the Every Child Matters Flag and the Black History Month Flag."

She says the Township is currently getting quotes for the installation of the flag pole, and she's hoping it will be up in the next four weeks.

Norwich Township made national headlines last year after council passed a bylaw that would only allow for government flags to be flown on Township property. John Scholten, who was the Ward 1 Councillor at the time, brought forward the motion to create this bylaw.

He retired at the end of 2023, but was part of the community flag pole discussion during his last meeting in December, and he voted in favour.

"We need to start the healing process because we know what happened and it wasn't pretty. I think that if we allow an organization to come to council and you can either approve or disapprove of that organization to fly it for one week, I don't think that's an issue."