With the recent passing of former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney we have had many questions regarding putting the Canadian flag at half-mast.

Canadian Heritage notes that “The half-masting of national flags is a well-established procedure whereby countries bestow an honour and express a collective sense of sorrow. Given that such flags are recognized as paramount symbols of their nations, the act of half-masting is a dramatic visual statement that speaks to the sense of loss that is shared by all their citizens.

When putting the flag to half-mast the centre of the flag should be exactly half-way down the mast.  When hoisted or lowered from half-mast position, a flag should be first raised to the mast head”