Franco-Ontarian Flag Secures Permanent Place at Queen's Park

TORONTO, December 16, 2025 – The Franco-Ontarian flag will be permanently displayed on the ceremonial flagpole of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario alongside the National Flag of Canada and the Flag of Ontario.

"By raising this flag permanently on the Legislative grounds, we are doing more than displaying an emblem recognized under the Franco-Ontarian Emblem Act," said the Honourable Donna Skelly, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. "We are signaling to every visitor at Queen’s Park that the Franco-Ontarian community is not only an integral part of our past, but a vital and enduring pillar of our future."

"We recently celebrated an historic milestone with the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Franco-Ontarian flag and the 15th anniversary of the official declaration of Franco-Ontarian Day," said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Francophone Affairs. “While the flag has previously flown on the Legislative Building and during special commemorative raisings, this permanent installation reflects the enduring and foundational role of the Francophone community in our province."

Ontario is home to more than 652,000 Francophone residents and 1.5 million French speakers, making it Canada’s largest Francophone community outside Quebec.

"Making the Franco-Ontarian flag a permanent fixture on the courtesy flagpole does not prevent any other community from coming to Queen's Park to celebrate their culture, heritage or identity," said Speaker Skelly. "The Legislature remains a welcoming place for all Ontarians."

Background Information

The Franco-Ontarian flag became an official provincial emblem with the passage of the Franco-Ontarian Flag Amendment Act, 2020 and is one of the province’s eight symbols. The green and white represent summer and winter in the province. The white trillium represents Ontario and the fleur de lys symbolizes the French-speaking community.

The history of the Franco-Ontarian community far predates the flag itself. It spans more than 400 years, beginning when Samuel de Champlain mapped the waters of Ontario – from the Ottawa River to Georgian Bay in 1615. Since that time, Franco-Ontarians have been essential contributors to Ontario’s cultural, social, and economic fabric.

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For more information, contact:

Julie Rosenberg 
Office of the Speaker 
Legislative Assembly of Ontario 
jrosenberg@ola.org