The Changing of the Peace Tower Flag

The Peace Tower flag is changed every day, Monday to Friday, except on statutory holidays and days when it is flown at half-mast. For safety reasons, if there are poor weather conditions such as a snowstorm or high winds, the flag is not changed.

An experienced Public Works and Government Services Canada employee has the responsibility, among others, for the changing of the Peace Tower flag. Before climbing to the top of the Peace Tower, the employee unfolds the flag to ensure its quality, and then refolds it and places it in a bag. A folded flag weighs around 5 pounds (2.3 kg). The employee takes the elevator to the observation deck. From there, he climbs a total of 107 ft (33m) using both stairs and ladders. The new flag must be prepared in the storage room and not on top of the Peace Tower, since the space on top is only 4 x 4 ft (1.2 m x 1.2 m). For safety reasons, the employee uses a harness upon arrival to the top. The employee lowers the flag and then raises the new one to the top of the 35 ft (10.7 m) pole. The flag dimensions are 7 ft 3 in x 14 ft 7 in (2.25 m x 4.5 m). As a sign of respect, the flags must not touch the ground.

The entire process to change the flag on the Peace Tower takes from 20 to 30 minutes.

VIDEO: Changing of the Peace Tower Flag