Commemorative Events

exterior of city hall at night with rainbow lighting

Reflecting Diversity

We recognize and value the contributions of the diverse communities that make Peterborough a resilient and thriving place to live. In 2019, City Council voted unanimously for Peterborough to join the Coalition of Inclusive Municipalities as an expression of our community’s values and goals related to diversity, equity and inclusion.

One way we contribute to enhancing awareness and learning is through observing internationally and nationally recognized days, weeks and months of significance.

Official celebrations and observances are recognized through a variety of acknowledgements, including:

Various City facilities and services, including the Museum and Archives, Peterborough Public Library and the Art Gallery of Peterborough build programming and education around official celebrations and observances.

Community groups and organizations are invited to request flag raisings, proclamations and commemorative lighting displays through the online forms linked below.

Commemorative flags

The Mayor's Office coordinates requests for commemorative flag raising at City facilities, including City Hall. Requests must be received at least one week before the event and meet the criteria for commemorative flag and lighting requests.

Request a commemorative flag raising

Flag raising events schedule

No events in schedule 

Half-mast flags at City facilities

 

The act of Half-Masting is a strong visual statement that speaks to the community’s sense of loss or reflection. The City lowers its flag to half mast upon the death of certain dignitaries, officials or City employees as identified in City procedures; and on days of reflection or mourning that are declared or enshrined in legislation by the Province, the Government of Canada, or City Council. The Half-Masting of the National Flag and the Provincial Flag will be in accordance with the Government of Canada’s Rules for Half-Masting the National Flag of Canada and the Provincial Guidelines for Half-Masting flags, respectively.

 
Schedule for half-mast flags
Date Reason for half-masting
Sunday, April 28, 2024 National Day of Mourning for those who have died, been injured or made ill in the workplace
Monday, September 30, 2024 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Monday, November 11, 2024 Remembrance Day
Friday, December 6, 2024 National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

Commemorative lighting displays

Commemorative lighting displays at City Hall and the Centennial Fountain recognize important events and cultural celebrations in our community.

The City of Peterborough accepts requests for commemorative lighting at City Hall throughout the year, and seasonally for the Centennial Fountain (May to October) from organizations or individuals that meet our commemorative lighting criteria.

Requests for commemorative lighting displays must be submitted at least three weeks before the event. Requests are processed in the order in which they are received. Please review the criteria section below before submitting your application.

Promotion of Commemorative Lighting displays is the responsibility of the organization or individual(s) who submitted the request. The City publicly posts notice of the subject of Commemorative Lighting displays on its website. Coordination, promotion, and implementation of any related Commemorative Lighting ceremonies is the responsibility of the organization or individual(s) who submitted the Commemorative Lighting request. Requests for Commemorative Lighting displays can request that the light display be in place for up to one week.

Criteria for commemorative flag and lighting requests
The City will consider Commemorative Flags and Commemorative Lighting requests that satisfy the following criteria:
  • Have a connection with the City of Peterborough.
  • Are non-commercial, non-religious, and non-partisan in nature.*
  • Align with the City’s by-laws and policies.
  • Foster a sense of community or have made a significant impact within the community.
  • Demonstrate respect and acceptance for Peterborough residents.
  • Celebrate a non-profit or charitable organization’s events or awareness campaign.

The City of Peterborough will not approve any Commemorative Flag or Commemorative Lighting request that:

  • Espouses hatred, violence, racism, or offensive messages.
  • Promotes religious organizations or religious festivals or events.*
  • Represents a political party, political organization, or candidates for election.
  • Reflects an organization or group with activities that are contrary to the by-laws and policies of the City.

*The City will consider requests for holidays and commemorative or awareness days, weeks and months that are recognized through legislation by the Province of Ontario or the Government of Canada.

Application and review process: commemorative lighting request

Before submitting a request, please review the criteria for commemorative flag and lighting requests above.

All requests will be reviewed by the City of Peterborough to ensure that they adhere to our commemorative lighting criteria and can be accommodated in the lighting schedule.

Requests must be submitted at least three weeks before the event. Requests are processed in the order in which they are received.

We will strive to respond to requests within five to seven business days.

Apply for a Commemorative lighting request online

Schedule of commemorative lighting displays

January
City Hall - January 2024 schedule
Event Date(s) Colour(s)
New Year's Day January 1 white and yellow
Tamil Heritage Month January 2 & 3 red and yellow
Lincoln Alexander Day January 21 blue
International Holocaust Remembrance Day January 27 yellow
Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome Awareness Day January 28 purple
National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia January 29 green
February
City Hall - February 2024 schedule
Event Date(s) Colour(s)
Black History Month February 1-5 red, yellow, green
Lunar New Year February 10 red
International Angelman Day February 15 blue
World Thinking Day February 22 blue
Black History Month February 27, 28 red, yellow, green
Rare Disease Day February 29 pink, purple, blue, green 
March
City Hall - March 2024 schedule
Event Date(s) Colour(s)
National Engineering Month, MSA Awareness Month March 1 purple
International Women's Day March 8 purple
Bangladeshi Heritage Month March 12 red
World Young Rheumatic Disease Day March 16 blue
Irish Heritage Day March 17 green
National Poison Prevention Week March 18 yellow-green
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination March 21 blue
World Water Day March 22 blue
World Tuberculosis Day March 24 red
Trans Day of Visibility March 31 blue, pink and white
April
City Hall - April 2024 schedule
Event Date(s) Colour(s)
Sikh Heritage Month April 1 orange and blue
Royal Canadian Air Force Centennial April 2 blue
Trent Day April 3 green
IBS Awareness Month April 4 periwinkle
World Parkinson's Day and Parkinson's Awareness Month April 11 blue
World Hemophilia Day April 17 red
Global Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Day April 19 yellow
Earth Day April 22 green
May
City Hall - May 2024 schedule
Event Date(s) Colour(s)
Doctors' Day (National Physicians' Day) May 1 blue
Asian Heritage Month May 2 multi-colour
Jewish Heritage Month May 3 blue
Dutch Heritage Month May 4 orange
Red Dress Day for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People May 5 red
Yom Ha'Shoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day May 6 white
Lupus Awareness Day May 10 purple
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Awareness Day May 11 yellow and green
Fibromyalgia Awareness Day May 12 purple
Huntington Disease Awareness  Month May 14 purple
International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia May 17 multi-colour/rainbow
Global Porphyria Awareness Day May 18 purple
Victorian Order of Nurses Week May 21-24 blue
National AccessAbility Week May 28-May 31 red

The Centennial Fountain typically opens for the season on the May long weekend. Commemorative Lighting Requests will be received for dates after May 18 each year.

June
City Hall - June 2024 schedule
Event Date(s) Colour(s)
International Pride Month  June 1 rainbow
National Indigenous History Month June 2 red, white, yellow
Italian Heritage Month June 3 red, green, white
Portuguese Heritage Month June 4 green, red, yellow
DeafBlind Awareness Month June 5 blue
Filipino Heritage Month June 6 red, blue, yellow
World Caring Day for Caregivers June 7 purple
DragonBoat Festival for Breast Cancer Awareness June 8 & 9 pink & purple
Pollinator Week June 17 & 18 yellow, orange, white
World Sickle Cell Awareness Day June 19 red and white
World Refugee Day June 20 blue
National Indigenous Persons Day June 21 red, yellow, white
National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism June 23 dimmed white
Multicultural Day June 27 multi-colour
Centennial Fountain - June 2024 schedule
Event Date(s) Colour(s)
Pride Month June 1 multi-colour
DragonBoat Festival for Breast Cancer Awareness June 7-9 pink & purple
National Indigenous Persons Day June 21 red, yellow, white
July
City Hall & Centennial Fountain - July 2024 schedule
Event Date(s) Colour(s)
Canada Day July 1 red and white
Canadian Paralympic Team - Ignite the Lights July 9 purple
Independence Day celebrations - Bahamas July 10 turquoise, yellow
August
City Hall & Centennial Fountain - August 2024 schedule
Event Date(s) Colour(s)
Emancipation Day August 1 red, green, yellow
International Overdose Awareness Day August 31 purple

August 2025: The Peter Robinson Irish Emigration Bicentennial will be commemorated August 2-11, 2025.

September
City Hall & Centennial Fountain - September 2024 schedule
Event Date(s) Colour(s)
Arthritis Awareness Month September 1-3 blue
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Awareness Month September 4 teal
Ukrainian Heritage Day September 7 blue and yellow
Firefighters' National Memorial Day September 8 white
Living Donation Week September 9 green
Prostate Cancer Awareness Month September 14 & 15 blue 
National Coaches Week September 16-17 blue, yellow, red
Pride Week Peterborough September 20-24 rainbow
Franco-Ontarian Day September 25 green and white
Pride Week Peterborough September 26-27 rainbow
British Home Child Day September 28 blue, red and white
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation September 30 orange
October
City Hall - October 2024 schedule
Event Date(s) Colour(s)
Islamic Heritage Month October 1-2 green
Hispanic Heritage Month October 3-4 orange
World Mental Health Day October 10 purple
World Arthritis Day October 12 blue
International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day October 15 purple
National Registered Veterinary Technician Week October 17 blue
Dysautonomia Awareness Month October 19 turquoise
World Occupational Therapy Day October 27 blue

Note: the Centennial Fountain typically closes for the season following the Thanksgiving long weekend in October.

November
City Hall - November 2024 schedule 
Event Date(s) Colour(s)
International Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome Awareness Day November 1 green and purple
Hindu Heritage Month November 2 orange
Albanian Heritage Month November 3 red
Treaties Recognition Week November 4 red, white and yellow
Veterans' Week November 5-7 red
National Indigenous Veterans Day November 8 red
Remembrance Day November 9-11 red
World Pneumonia Day and Eczema Awareness Month November 12 blue
World Pancreatic Cancer Day November 15 purple
World Prematurity Day November 17 purple
National Grief and Bereavement Day November 19 blue
Transgender Day of Remembrance November 20 white
World Pancreatic Cancer Day November 21 purple
Children’s Grief Awareness Day November 21 blue
16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence November 25-30 purple
December
City Hall - December 2024 schedule
Event Date(s) Colour(s)
16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence December 1 & 2 purple
International Day of Persons with Disabilities December 3 purple
National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women December 6 white
16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence December 7-9 purple
International Human Rights Day December 10 blue
Christmas December 24-25 red and green