13 June 2007
Tattered Flag Raises Council Ire
Banff Alberta - Banff council is in a flap over the state
of the flag on Canadian Pacific Railway's property in Banff.
Council is drafting a formal letter to ask the iconic railway giant to replace the tattered Maple Leaf, the state of which has been the
subject of numerous complaints from residents over the past year.
One of the three panels on the red and white national flag is torn off.
Mayor John Stutz said the Banff train station, at the northwest entrance to town, is used by Greyhound to drop off and pick up bus
customers, as well as Rocky Mountain Rail tours.
"There are many thousands of visitors for whom this is their first impression of Banff," he said.
"It's a much-photographed lovely station and it's the wrong image not only for our country, but for our town. I'm
certain CP will deal with this in a timely manner."
Coun. Chip Olver said the flag should be replaced immediately because the train station is in such a prominent location.
"I really care that the flag looks good. I like the flag," she said. "I'm proud of the Canadian flag. I like it to look
good for our visitors."
Coun. Karen Sorensen shared Olver's concerns. She said several residents have reported the state of the tattered flag to the Town of
Banff, but the municipality cannot do anything because the train station does not lie on municipal property.
"There has been no action taken," she said.
Mark Seland, Canadian Pacific's director of public affairs, said the company was completely unaware of this oversight.
"We would have appreciated contact from administration or council before it came to this," he said. "A motion in this
regard was unnecessary if we had been made aware by the Town earlier."
Breanne Feigel, another spokesperson for Canadian Pacific, said the flag would be replaced in time for Canada Day,
1 Jul 2007.
"It's already been dealt with," she said. "We're working on getting it replaced."
The manner in which flags may be displayed in Canada is not governed by any legislation, but by established practice.
The Department of Canadian Heritage provides information on flag etiquette in Canada, which the government indicates is in no way
mandatory for individuals or businesses and serves only as a guideline.
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