Town of Innisfil staff will take a second look at the municipality’s flag-raising policy after a local Indian group pulled the plug on its Independence Day celebration this week.
The Innisfil Indian Association announced Tuesday it had cancelled a Bharat Utsav 2024 event scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 15 at town hall. The celebration was to start at 5 p.m. today and it had included plans for a flag-raising ceremony, the singing of the Indian national anthem, food and kids activities.
President Loki Swain says the association was told the flag-raising portion would follow the protocols typically observed for the national flag of Canada — in other words, the Indian flag would fly on its own pole by temporarily replacing the town’s flag.
But it was later clarified to the group that, under Innisfil’s flag-raising protocol, the Indian national flag would need to be raised below the town’s flag. That’s a policy that “does not align with the vision we had for this event,” the association says.
Town communications and community engagement manager Jane Cocking says the clerk’s office will review the municipality’s policy to ensure it is clear. However, the town needs to maintain consistency, given the sheer number of similar events it hosts each year, while also ensuring federal rules and provincial recommendations are respected.
“The Town of Innisfil hosts many flag raising ceremonies to celebrate and acknowledge organizations and special occasions,” she said. “The town follows the federal regulations for flying the Canadian flag as well as the provincial guidelines regarding the order of flags and how other flags should be displayed, as well as the town’s policy on flag protocol.”
Innisfil has issued a proclamation to declare Aug. 15 as Indian Independence Day in the town, in recognition of the association being a "vibrant group (that) organizes a range of events throughout the year, from cultural festivals and community events to educational workshops."
The proclamation also reads: "Their members come from all walks of life, united by their love for Indian culture and their desire to share it with others. (The association's) unwavering commitment to inclusivity and community building makes them an essential part of the Town's cultural landscape."
But this is just the latest flag-related controversy to pop up at a public building in the Simcoe County area. Earlier this year, a decision to replace the Canadian flag with a Pride one outside an Orillia school drew the ire of students. Similar concerns were expressed weeks later by a Cookstown resident whose family has deep military ties.
Bharat Utsav marks India’s independence from the United Kingdom in 1947, following nearly a century of direct colonial rule.
“Our intention was never to permanently replace the Town of Innisfil flag with the Indian National Flag,” Swain said in an email. “Our proposal was for a temporary display during the … event, as a symbol of cultural celebration, unity and freedom.”
The Indian flag was to be raised to the left of the Canadian flag, which flies on the middle pole of the three erected outside town hall. The other pole is occupied by the provincial flag.
“This understanding was a key factor in our event planning,” Swain said. “We understand and respect the town's policies, as well as the federal and provincial guidelines concerning the order of flags and their display. Our request was meant to be in the spirit of inclusion and cultural recognition, within the framework of these regulations. We also appreciate the town's willingness to review its policy, which we believe is a positive step toward accommodating the diverse cultural fabric of our community.”
