Proclamation and Community Flag Raising

Proclamations

The City of Markham can recognize special people, events, organizations, and groups in our community.

Our proclamations:

Celebrate achievements
Raise public awareness about important issues in Markham
Recognize a special day, week or month

Proclamations aren't endorsements by the City. They are approved by the Mayor using our Council-Approved Policy [PDF].

We can't issue proclamations for:

Individuals, events, organizations or community groups with no demonstrated significant interest or relationship to the City;
Political parties or organizations;
Religious organizations or celebrations of religious events, with the exception of religious heritage months;
Businesses or commercial enterprises;
Illegal matters, including matters contrary to corporate policies or by-laws;
Matters which defame the integrity of the City;
Discriminatory or inflammatory matters;
Matters designed to incite hatred or disorder, and;
Matters which are untruthful.

Please make a proclamation request at least 3 weeks in advance using our Online Request Form.

Community Flag Raisings

Flags and symbols of nations, territories, and community organizations are important to Markham residents. The City has used special flag raisings to raise public awareness of:

National or independence days
Multicultural events
Fundraising drives
Historical commemorations

Markham also flies flags at half-mast. This is done during periods of official mourning or to commemorate sad occasions that are important to our community.

A flag raising can recognize a particular day or week.

Flag Raising requests will only be approved by the City Clerk using our Council-Approved Policy [PDF].

We cannot raise a flag for:

Political parties
Religious groups
Fundraising drives that are political in nature
Groups, organizations, or events that promote events that go against City policy

There may be other reasons we can’t raise a flag for your cause. The Clerk can let you know whether your application is appropriate or not.

Please make a flag raising request at least 3 weeks in advance using our Online Request Form.

Proclamation & Flag Raising Request Form

Please make a request for a proclamation or flag raising at least 3 weeks in advance using our Online Request Form.

You can also contact us with your questions:

By email at proclamations@markham.ca

By mail at:

City of Markham
Legislative Services Department
101 Town Centre Boulevard
Markham, Ontario, L3R 9W3

By phone at 905.477.7000 extension 2366

Approved List Of Proclamations

2025

January

International Holocaust Remembrance Day, January 27
National Day of Remembrance and Action Against Islamophobia, January 29
Tamil Heritage Month

February

Black History Month
Chinese Heritage Month

March

International Women's Day, March 8
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, March 21
Hellenic Heritage Month
Irish Heritage Month
Persian Heritage Month

April

National Day of Mourning, April 28
Sikh Heritage Month

May

National Public Works Week, May 18 to 24
Armenian Heritage Month
Asian Heritage Month
Dutch Heritage Month
Jewish Heritage Month
South Asian Heritage Month

June

National Indigenous Peoples Day, June 21
National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism, June 23
Canadian Multiculturalism Day, June 27
Hakka Heritage Week
Filipino Heritage Month
Italian Heritage Month
National Indigenous History Month
Portuguese Heritage Month
Pride Month
Recreation and Parks Month
Seniors Month

August

Emancipation Day, August 1

September

Firefighters National Memorial Day, September 14
Franco-Ontarian Day, September 25
Police and Peace Officers National Memorial Day, September 25
National Day Truth and Reconciliation, September 30

October

Fire Prevention Week, October 5 to 11
Ontario Public Library Week, October 20 to 26
Local Government Week
German Heritage Month
Hispanic Heritage Month
Islamic Heritage Month
Korean Heritage Month
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
Women's History Month

November

Remembrance Day, November 11
Hindu Heritage Month

December

National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, December 6
Christian Heritage Month

2024

January

Kawasaki Disease Awareness Day, January 26
Republic Day of India, January 26
International Holocaust Remembrance Day, January 27
Data Privacy Day, January 28
National Day of Remembrance and Action Against Islamophobia, January 29
Tamil Heritage Month

February

211 Day, February 11
Heritage Week, February 19 to 25
World Thinking Day, February 22
Black History Month
Chinese Heritage Month

March

International Women's Day, March 8
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, March 21
Save Soil Day, March 21
World Down Syndrome Day, March 21
Amyloidosis Awareness Month
Epilepsy Awareness Month and Purple Day
Hellenic Heritage Month
Irish Heritage Month
Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder Awareness Month
Persian Heritage Month

April

National Volunteer Week, April 14 to 20
Spanish Language Day, April 23
Human Values Day, April 24
National Day of Mourning, April 28
Sikh Heritage Month

May

National Youth Week, May 1 to 7
National Public Works Week, May 19 to 25
Armenian Independence Day, May 25
Menstrual Health Day, May 28
Multiple Sclerosis Day, May 30
Armenian Heritage Month
Asian Heritage Month
Dutch Heritage Month
Jewish Heritage Month
South Asian Heritage Month

June

Philippine Week, June 8 to 16
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Awareness Week, June 9 to 15
World Sickle Cell Day, June 19
National Indigenous Peoples Day, June 21
National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism, June 23
Hakka Heritage Week, June 24 to 30
International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, June 26
Canadian Multiculturalism Day, June 27
Brain Injury Awareness Month
Filipino Heritage Month
Italian Heritage Month
National Indigenous History Month
Portuguese Heritage Month
Pride Month
Recreation and Parks Month
Seniors Month

July

Plastic Free July

August

Emancipation Day, August 1
Andre De Grasse Day, August 9
India Independence Day, August 9
Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Week, August 25 to 31

September

Vietnam National Day, September 2
Firefighters' National Memorial Day, September 8
Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week, September 16 to 22
National Coaches Week, September 16 to 22
Cherish Integrated Services Day, September 21
National Forest Week, September 22 to 28
Rail Safety Week, September 23 to 29
Franco-Ontarian Day, September 25
Police and Peace Officers' National Memorial Day, September 25
National British Home Child Day, September 28
Markham Fair Week, September 28 to October 6
Animal Health Week, September 29 to October 5
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, September 30
Prostate Awareness Month
Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month

October

Wrongful Conviction Day, October 2
Fire Prevention Week, October 6 to 12
National Feral Cat Day, October 16
Ontario Public Library Week, October 20 to 26
Local Government Week, October 21 to 25
Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day, October 24
World Polio Day, October 24
Circular Economy Month
German Heritage Month
Hispanic Heritage Month
Islamic Heritage Month
Korean Heritage Month
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
Women's History Month

November

Remembrance Day, November 11
Shrimad Rajchandra Day, November 11
Hindu Heritage Month

December

National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, December 6
Christian Heritage Month

2023

January

Kawasaki Disease Awareness Day, January 26
Republic Day of India, January 26
International Holocaust Remembrance Day, January 27
Crime Stoppers Awareness Month
Tamil Heritage Month

February

National 211 Day, February 11
World Thinking Day, February 22
World Spay Day, February 28
Black History Month

March

Markham Down Syndrome Day, March 21
Save Soil Day, March 21
World Down Syndrome Day, March 21
Purple Day for Epilepsy Awareness, March 26
Amyloidosis Awareness Month
Epilepsy Awareness Month
Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder Awareness Month

April

National Wildlife Week, April 4 to 8
Green Shirt Day, April 7
International Dark Sky Week, April 22 to 30
Earth Day, April 22
Human Values Day, April 24
Day of Mourning for Persons Killed or Injured in the Workplace, April 28
Earth Month

May

National Youth Week, May 1 to 7
Be Kind to Animals Week, May 3 to 9
King Charles the Third Coronation Day, May 6
Science Rendezvous Day, May 13
Tamil Memorial Day, May 18
World Turtle Day, May 23
Multiple Sclerosis Day, May 31
Jewish Heritage Month
Light It Up Green for May - Lime Disease Awareness Month

June

Canadian Environment Week, June 5 to 11
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Awareness Week, June 11 to 17
Philippine Week, June 11 to 18
Philippines Independence Day, June 12
The Longest Day of Smiles, June 18
Indigenous Peoples Day, June 21
International Public Service Day, June 23
International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, June 26
Hakka Heritage Week, June 26 to 30
Brain Injury Awareness Month
National Indigenous History Month
Pride Month
Seniors Month

July

Plastic Free July

August

India Independence Day, August 15

September

Vietnam National Day, September 2
National Coaches Week, September 16 to 24
National Forest Week, September 17 to 23
Rail Safety Week, September 18 to 24
Cherish Integrated Services Day, September 21
Global Ismaili Civic Day, September 24
Test Your Smoke Alarm Day, September 28
National British Home Child Day, September 28
Markham Fair Week, Spetember 28 to October 1
Pulmonary Fibrosis Month

October

Animal Health Week, October 1 to 7
International Trigeminal Neuralgia Day, October 7
Local Government Week, October 15 to 21
National Feral Cat Day, October 16
Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day, October 17
Circular Economy Month

November

Shrimad Rajchandra Day, November 9
Children's Grief Awareness Day, November 16
Economic Abuse Awareness Day, November 26

December

2022

January

Bell Let's Talk Day, January 26
Tamil Heritage Month

February

Heritage Week, February 21 to 27
Human Trafficking Awareness Day, February 22
World Spay Day, February 22
World Thinking Day, February 22
Black History Month

March

Markham Down Syndrome Day, March 21
World Down Syndrome Day, March 21
Pakistan National Day, March 23
Purple Day for Epilepsy Awareness, March 26
Multiple Myeloma Awareness Day, March 31
Markham Toastmasters Club #4782 Fortieth Anniversary
Epilepsy Awareness Month

April

National Wildlife Week, April 4 to 10
International Dark Sky Week, April 22 to 30
Human Values Day, April 24
Day of Mourning for Persons Killed or Injured in the Workplace, April 28

May

Be Kind to Animals Week, May 1 to 7
Day of Action Against Anti-Asian Racism, May 10
World Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Day, May 19
World Turtle Day, May 23
Armenian National Day, May 28
National Accessibility Awareness Week, May 29 to June 4
Canadian Environment Week, May 30 to June 5
Jewish Heritage Month

June

Platinum Jubilee Week, June 2 to 5
Philippine Week, June 5 to 12
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Awareness Week, June 5 to 11
World Ocean Day, June 8
Philippines Independence Day, June 12
The Longest Day of Smiles, June 19
World Sickle Cell Day, June 19
Hakka Heritage Week, June 24 to 30
International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, June 26
Brain Injury Awareness Month
National Indigenous Peoples Month
Pride Month

July

National Injury Prevention Day, July 5

August

Jamaica's Sixtieth Anniversary of Independence, August 4
Independence Day of Pakistan, August 14
Twenty Fifth Anniversary TD Markham Jazz Festival, August 31 to 21

September

Macedonian Heritage Day, September 8
Professional House Cleaners Day, September 17
National Coaches Week, September 17 to 25
Rail Safety Week, September 19 to 25
National Forest Week, September 18 to 24
Cherish Integrated Services Day, September 21
Show Your Local Love Day, September 23
Franco-Ontarian Day, September 25
Markham Fair Week, September 25 to October 2
Macedonian Heritage Month
Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month
World Alzheimer's Month

October

International Wrongful Conviction Day, October 2
Animal Health Week, October 2 to 8
National Feral Cat Day, October 16
Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day, October 18
Rett Syndrome Awareness Month

November

Daughter's Day, November 7

December

2021

January

Republic Day of India, January 26
Tamil Heritage Month

February

Heritage Week, February 15 to 21
Black History Month

March

World Lymphedema Day, March 6
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, March 21
World Down Syndrome Day, March 21
Pakistan National Day, March 23
Purple Day for Epilepsy Awareness, March 26
Epilepsy Awareness Month

April

National Wildlife Week, April 6 to 10
One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the Toronto and York Regional Labour Council, April 12
Human Values Day, April 24
Day of Mourning for Persons Killed or Injured in the Workplace, April 28
Organ and Tissue Donation Month

May

Be Kind to Animals Week, May 3 to 9
Day of Action Against Anti-Asian Racism, May 10
Nursing Week, May 10 to 16
Apraxia Awareness Day, May 14
Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Day, May 19
Personal Support Worker Day, May 19
World Turtle Day, May 23
Menstrual Health Day, May 28

June

Philippines Week, June 6 to 12
Philippines Independence Day, June 12
World Sickle Cell Day, June 19
Indigenous Peoples Day, June 21
National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism, June 23
International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, June 26
Indigenous Peoples History Month
Brain Injury Awareness Month
Italian Heritage Month
Pride Month

July

National Injury Prevention Day, July 5

August

Emancipation Day, August 1
Andre De Grasse Day, August 4
Jayde Riviere Day, August 6
Flight of the Monarchs Day, August 21
Zachary Gingras Day, August 31

September

Marissa Papaconstantinou Day, September 3
Markham Group of Artists Celebrating Forty Years, September 9 to 16
Up Your Life Day, September 10
Firefighter's National Memorial Day, September 12
Public Rail Safety Week, September 20 to 26
World Alzheimer's Day, September 21
Establishment of New Cherish Integrated Services Centre, September 21 to 24
International Peace Day, September 21 to 28
Show Your Local Love Day, September 23
Franco-Ontarian Day, September 25
Police and Peace Officers' National Memorial Day, September 26
National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, September 30
Orange Shirt Day, September 30
Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month

October

International Wrongful Conviction Day, October 2
Animal Health Week, October 4 to 10
National Feral Cat Day, October 16
Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day, October 21
Caribbean Heritage Month
Dyslexia Awareness Month
Rett Syndrome Awareness Month

November

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome Awareness Day, November 5
Franklin the Flamingo Franklin Literacy Day, November 6
Period Equity Day, November 7
Remembrance Day, November 11
Crohn's and Colitis Awareness Month

December

World Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Day, December 1
International Day of Persons with Disabilities, December 3
National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, December 6
Human Rights Day, December 10
Nanjing Massacre Day, December 13

2020

January

Bell Let's Talk Day, January 29
Day of Remembrance and Action on Islamophobia, January 29
Crime Stoppers Awareness Month
Tamil Heritage Month

February

Fifty Fifth Anniversary of the Canada Flag Day, February 15
Heritage Week, February 17 to 23
Black History Month

March

World Lymphedema Day, March 6
Pakistan National Day, March 23
Purple Day for Epilepsy Awareness, March 26
Epilepsy Awareness Month

April

National Wildlife Week, April 6 to 10
Human Values Day, April 24
Day of Mourning for Persons Killed or Injured in the Workplace, April 28
National Day of Mourning, April 28

May

Be Kind to Animals Week, May 3 to 9
Emergency Preparedness Week, May 3 to 9
Mental Health Week, May 4 to 10
Policing Week, May 10 to 16
Nursing Week, May 11 to 17
Apraxia Awareness, May 14
Be Kind to One Another Days: Celebrating Super Heroes 2020, May 18 to 24
World Turtle Day, May 23
Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Day, May 27

June

Philippine Week, June 7 to 14
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Week, June 15 to 21
World Sickle Cell Day, June 19
National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism, June 23
Innovation Month
Pride Month

July

National Injury Prevention Day, July 6

August

Flight of the Monarchs Day, August 22

September

International Literacy Day, September 8
Firefighter's National Memorial Day, September 13
Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week, September 13 to 19
Cherish Integrated Services Day, September 21
World Alzheimer's Day, September 21
Franco-Ontarian Day, September 25
Show Your Local Love Day, September 25
Police and Peace Officers' National Memorial Day, September 27
Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month

October

Wrongful Conviction Day, October 2
Animal Health Week, October 4 to 10
National Feral Cat Day, October 16
Waste Reduction Week, October 19 to 23
Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day, October 22
Caribbean Heritage Month
Dyslexia Awareness Month
Rett Syndrome Awareness Month

November

Remembrance Day, November 11

December

International Day of Persons with Disabilities, December 3
National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, December 6
Human Rights Day, December 10
Nanjing Massacre Day, December 13

2019

January

Crime Stoppers Awareness Month
Tamil Heritage Month
Family Literacy Day, January 27

February

Black History Month
Eating Disorder Awareness Week, February 1 to 7
Heritage Week, February 18 to 24

March

Epilepsy Awareness Month
International Women's Day, March 8
Pakistan National Day, March 23
Greek Independence Day, March 25
Purple Day for Epilepsy Awareness, March 26

April

World Autism Awareness Day, April 2
National Volunteer Week, April 7 to 13
Human Values Day, April 24
Day of Mourning for Workers Killed or Injured on the Job, April 28

May

Innovation Week in the City of Markham, May 6 to 12
Be Kind to Animals Week, May 6 to 12
Nursing Week, May 6 to 12
National Public Works Week, May 19 to 25
Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Day, May 22
Armenian National Day, May 25
May is Museum Month
Markham in Motion Day, May 31

June

Built Green Day, June 5
Pride Week, June 7 to 16
ALS Double Play Five Kilometre Walk, June 8 to 15
Philippines Independence Day, June 9
Philippines Week, June 9 to 16
Pollinator Week, June 17 to 23
Indigenous Peoples Day, June 21
International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, June 26
Indigenous Peoples History Month

July

National Injury Prevention Day, July 5

August

India Independence Day, August 15

September

Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Week, September 15 to 21
Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week, September 16 to 22
Show Your Local Love Day, September 17
Military Family Appreciation Day, September 20
Dementia Friendly Day for World Alzheimer's Day, September 21
National Coaches Week, September 21 to 29
Franco-Ontarian Day, September 25
Markham Fair Week, September 30 to October 7
Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
Sickle Cell Awareness Month

October

National Seniors Day, October 1
National Day of the People's Republic of China, October 1
Wrongful Conviction Day, October 2
International Trigeminal Neuralgia Day, October 7
Waste Reduction Week, October 21 to 27
World Polio Day, October 24
Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day, October 24
Caribbean Heritage Month
Rett Syndrome Awareness Month
Islamic Heritage Month

November

Turkish Republic Day, November 4

December

National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, December 6
Human Rights Day, December 10
Nanjing Massacre Day, December 13