In a communication to Hamilton’s Veterans’ Committee, mid-level City of Hamilton staff stated that front-line city parks staff questioned orders from senior City Hall managers to remove the United States Flag from Dieppe Memorial Park.
Front-line parks staff did not immediately obey the direction to remove the American flag from the Dieppe War Memorial on Beach Boulevard. Instead, they cautioned management against the decision.
Senior managers told them that the order to remove American flags from all City of Hamilton properties, including war memorials, was to be completed immediately.
The flag was returned to the memorial a week later after an outcry of opposition from the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry Regimental Association, local branches of the Royal Canadian Legion, and numerous other veterans’ groups.
The latest information came to light following a meeting of Hamilton’s Veterans’ Committee on March 25.
The City of Hamilton declined to release the correspondence provided to the committee.
Removal of the Flag, Veterans Outcry, and the Flag’s Return
Late in the afternoon on Tuesday, March 11, Hamilton’s senior leadership team decided to remove all United States flags flying on or displayed within City of Hamilton facilities.
The removal of US flags from Dieppe Memorial Park and War of 1812 memorials occurred the same day.
The memorial honours all who fought in the 1942 Dieppe Raid, including American Rangers who fought alongside Canadian troops. One hundred ninety-seven members of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry died in the August 19, 1942, raid.
Very quickly, residents who live near Dieppe Memorial Park reported the missing flag and assumed someone had stolen it in protest of President Donald Trump’s recent actions.
The RHLI Regimental Association issued a public statement regarding the assumed theft.
Two days later, they learned that the City had removed the flag.
Immediately, they and other veterans’ organizations expressed their strong opposition to the action.
“When the City received some concern from the Legions and others in the community, they seem to have recognized that it was perhaps too broad a brush, and so the flag has gone back up,” the mid-level staffer told the Veterans Committee.
The flag was returned to the memorial.
City Council Not Informed of Removal
Throughout the events, City Council was mostly kept in the dark. Ward 5 Councillor Matt Francis said he searched for answers, but none were provided.
On March 17, TPR searched for answers and learned the flag was removed at the order of the City’s senior leadership team.
Council learned of the decision from the TPR report.
Six Council members stated they did not support senior staff making political decisions.
Nine members, including the six just noted, stated they opposed removal from war memorials.
Mayor Apologized for Removal
On March 18, Mayor Andrea Horwath’s office issued “sincere apologies to the entire community.”
“The flag was removed in error from the war memorial and arrangements were made to have that rectified as soon as we were made aware.”
Council Sticks with Removal of U.S. Flags
In the weeks since the removal of U.S. Flags, there has been no debate or discussion by City Council, which has the effect of making the staff decision permanent, including the decision to keep the new flag policy confidential.
Other Municipalities, the United States Flag, and Counter-Tariff Responses
Hamilton is the only known instance of a municipality removing the American flag without a council debate or vote.
The Town of West Lincoln removed the U.S. flag in a unanimous February vote.
The Town of Cobough Council is keeping American flags in its facilities. One councillor noted that the local Junior A hockey team has Americans on the roster.
Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley proposed removing American flags in his border community. A councillor asked, “What’s next? A big banner across the city stating, ‘Yankee, go home?'”, a community outcry followed (including the Chamber of Commerce), and Bradley withdrew.
Newmarket Council will vote on April 7 on a motion to remove U.S. flags and only permit the display of other countries’ flags during international competitions or visits.
Barrie is spending $250,000 to install a 14-storey, 150-foot-tall flagpole alongside Highway 400, which will fly a massive Canadian flag.
North Bay will continue to recognize and celebrate the United States Air Force members based in the City. US F-16 fighter jets will be on display at the annual Armed Forces Day, and US flags will continue to fly at municipal properties.
Fort Nelson formally opposes proposals to toll U.S. trucking along the Alaska Highway. [Only one percent of the total cargo into Alaska traverses the road between Washington State and Alaska.]
Production Details
v. 1.0.0
Published: April 4, 2025
Last updated: April 4, 2025
Author: Joey Coleman
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v. 1.0.0 original version