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 event schedule
  • Friday, September 15 at 12:15 p.m.: Peterborough Pride Week. Get involved and learn more: visit the Peterborough Pride website.
  • Monday, October 2 at 11 a.m.: International Day of Older Persons.
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
Friday, April 28, 2023 National Day of Mourning for those who have died, been injured or made ill in the workplace
Starting Wednesday, September 20, 2023 (for one week) Passing of former City of Peterborough employee.
Saturday, September 30, 2023 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Saturday, November 11, 2023 Remembrance Day

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 2023 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
Lunar New Year January 22-23 red
Holocaust Remembrance Day January 27 white, dimmed
Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome Awareness Day January 28 purple
National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque and Action Against Islamophobia January 29 green
February
City Hall - February 2023 schedule
Event Date(s) Colour(s)
Black History Month February 1-5 red, yellow, green
World Thinking Day February 22 blue
One-year anniversary of the war in Ukraine February 24 blue and yellow
March
City Hall - March 2023 schedule
Event Date(s) Colour(s)
Bangladeshi Heritage Month March 1-3 green and red
International Women's Day March 8 purple
Irish Heritage Day March 17 green
National Poison Prevention Week March 19-20 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 2023 schedule
Event Date(s) Colour(s)
Sikh Heritage Month April 1 orange and blue
Peterborough Petes Playoffs April 2-6 maroon
World Parkinson's Day and Parkinson's Awareness Month April 11 red
Irritable Bowel Syndrome Awareness Month April 12 periwinkle
Premenstrual Disorder Awareness Month April 15 teal
Porphyria Awareness Week April 18 purple
Global Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Day April 19 blue, pink, yellow
Earth Day April 22 green
National Volunteer Week April 25-29 blue and orange
May
City Hall - May 2023 schedule
Event Date(s) Colour(s)
Doctor's Day (Ontario) May 1 blue
Asian Heritage Month May 2-4 red
Red Dress Day for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People May 5 red
Coronation of King Charles III May 6 & 7 white, red and blue
Jewish Heritage Month May 8 & 9 blue and white
Lupus Awareness Day May 10 purple
Dutch Heritage Month May 11 orange
Fibromyalgia Awareness Day May 12 purple
Huntington Disease Awareness May 14-16 purple
International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia May 17 multi-colour/rainbow
Victorian Order of Nurses Week May 22-27 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 19 each year.

June
City Hall - June 2023 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 & 4 red, green, white
Portuguese Heritage Month June 5 & 6 green, red, yellow
DeafBlind Awareness Month June 7 & 8 blue
DragonBoat Festival for Breast Cancer Awareness (City Hall) June 9 & 10 pink and purple
United Empire Loyalist Day June 19 red, blue, 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
Pollinators Week June 24 & 25 yellow, orange and white
Multicultural Day June 27 multi-colour
Centennial Fountain - June 2023 schedule
Event Date(s) Colour(s)
DeafBlind Awareness Month June 7 blue
DragonBoat Festival June 9 & 10 pink and purple
World Refugee Day June 20 blue
National Indigenous Persons Day June 21 red, yellow, white
Pollinators Week June 24-25 yellow, orange, white
International Pride Month June 27-30 multi-colour
July
City Hall & Centennial Fountain - July 2023 schedule
Event Date(s) Colour(s)
Canada Day July 1 red and white
August
City Hall & Centennial Fountain - August 2023 schedule
Event Date(s) Colour(s)
Emancipation Day August 1 red, green, yellow
Ukrainian Day of the National Flag & Independence Day August 23 & 24 blue and yellow (City Hall only)
International Overdose Awareness Day August 31 purple
September
City Hall & Centennial Fountain - September 2023 schedule
Event Date(s) Colour(s)
Arthritis Awareness Month September 1-3 blue
Ukrainian Heritage Day September 7 blue and yellow
Firefighters' National Memorial Day September 10 dimmed white (City Hall only)
Living Donation Week September 12 & 13 green
Prostate Cancer Awareness Month September 16 & 17 blue (City Hall only)
Pride Week Peterborough September 18-24 rainbow
Franco-Ontarian Day September 25 green and white
British Home Child Day September 28 blue, red and white
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation September 30 orange
October
City Hall - October 2023 schedule
Event Date(s) Colour(s)
Islamic Heritage Month October 1-3 green
Hispanic Heritage Month October 4-6 orange
World Mental Health Day October 10 purple
World Arthritis Day October 12 blue
International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day October 15 purple
Dress Purple Day - Children's Aid Society October 27 purple

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

November
City Hall - November 2023 schedule 
Event Date(s) Colour(s)
Hindu Heritage Month November 1-3 orange
Albanian Heritage Month November 4-5 red
Treaties Recognition Week November 6-7 red, yellow, white
National Indigenous Veterans Day November 8 red
Remembrance Day November 9-11 red
World Pancreatic Cancer Day November 15 purple
Children’s Grief Awareness Day November 16 blue
World Prematurity Day November 17 purple
Transgender Day of Remembrance November 20 dimmed white
National Grief and Bereavement Day November 21 blue
December
City Hall - December 2023 schedule
Event Date(s) Colour(s)
International Day of Persons with Disabilities December 3 purple
National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women December 6 dimmed white
UN's End Violence Against Women Campaign December 7-9 orange
International Human Rights Day December 10 blue
Christmas December 24-25 red and green