Franco-Albertan flag

The flag is charged with a white fleur-de-lys, with the symbol and the colour white used to represent the Francophonie and French culture.{{cite web|url=https://www.clo-ocol.gc.ca/en/timeline-event/the-franco-albertan-flag-flies-for-the-first-time|title=The Franco-Albertan flag flies for the first time|website=clo-ocol.gc.ca|access-date=27 May 2021|publisher=Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages|archive-date=30 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930213524/https://www.clo-ocol.gc.ca/en/timeline-event/the-franco-albertan-flag-flies-for-the-first-time|url-status=dead}} The provincial flower of Alberta, a red-coloured wild rose, and the colour blue is used to represent the province of Alberta. The flag also features two diagonal bands that represent the waterways used by French Canadian pioneers who explored and settled the province.{{cite web|url=https://morinvillenews.com/2014/03/04/flags-to-rise-for-rendez-vous-de-la-francophonie/|title=Flags to rise for Rendez-vous de la Francophonie|date=4 March 2014|access-date=27 May 2021|website=morinvillenews.com|publisher=Pawn Marketing & Publishing Inc.}}

The flag was created by Jean-Pierre Grenier, who submitted the design for a competition held by Francophonie jeunesse de l’Alberta. The flag was first unveiled at the Congrès Annuel de l’Association Canadienne-Francaise de l’Alberta on 6 March 1982.{{cite web|url=http://accent-patrimoine.ca/en/2018/01/24/the-franco-albertan-flag-a-symbol-of-francophone-pride/|title=The Franco-Albertan Flag: A Symbol of Francophone Pride|publisher=Association canadienne-française de l'Alberta|date=24 January 2018|access-date=27 May 2021|first=Gabriel|last=Kreiner}}

The Association canadienne-française de l'Alberta has organized Franco-Albertan flag-raising ceremonies on the first Friday of March since 2009.{{cite web|url=https://smokyriverexpress.com/franco-albertan-flag-raising-ceremony/|title=The sky was blue, white and pink at the Franco-Albertan flag-raising ceremony|publisher=Smoky River Peace River Express|date=12 March 2019|access-date=27 May 2021|last=Henihan|first=Tom|website=smokyriverexpress.com}}

In June 2017, the flag was formally adopted as a "Symbol of Distinction" and an emblem for Franco-Albertans by the government of Alberta as a part of the province's first French-language policy.{{cite web|url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/francophones-of-alberta-franco-albertains|title=Francophones of Alberta (Franco-Albertains)|last=Dupuis|first=Serge|access-date=27 May 2021}} The flag was registered with the Canadian Heraldic Authority on 15 August 2018.

The government of Alberta raised the Franco-Albertan flag for one month in March 2018, in commemoration of Francophone month in Alberta.{{cite web|url=https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1649099/drapeau-franco-albertain-mois-francophone-alberta-mars|title=Le drapeau franco-albertain remplacé en moins de 24 heures|date=4 March 2020|access-date=27 May 2021|publisher=Société Radio‑Canada|website=ici.radio-canada.ca|language=French}} However, the government of Alberta later adopted a resolution in August 2019, limiting the time a flag representing specific groups could fly at the legislature. After the resolution, the Franco-Albertan flag was only flown outside the Alberta Legislature Building for one day each year.{{cite web|url=https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1650690/drapeau-franco-albertain-francophonie-alberta-retrait|title=L'ACFA déçue de voir le drapeau franco-albertain retiré si tôt|date=5 March 2020|last=Pirot|first=Laurent|website=ici.radio-canada.ca|publisher=Société Radio‑Canada|access-date=27 May 2021|language=French}}

• List of Franco-Canadian flags
• Symbols of Alberta

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Category:Flags of Alberta

Category:Flags introduced in 1982

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