Creating Vancouver’s next flag
Vancouver has grown and changed since its flag was originally created in 1993. The current flag is dated, not easily recognizable, and doesn’t follow basic flag design principles. In early 2025, the City announced a design competition to create a new City flag that would represent the community’s shared values and aspirations.
Flag Design Review Committee
The Vancouver City Council appointed a Flag Design Review Committee. The Committee is comprised of Vancouver residents and two members of City Council.
The Committee will review the 138 entries and make recommendations for finalists. After the finalists have been selected, residents will be invited to provide feedback on their preferred designs. The Committee will use that information to inform their final design selection and a runner-up. The recommended design will be submitted to the City Council for final adoption. The committee reserves the right not to recommend a proposed flag if a suitable design is not submitted.
Committee members
- Rosalinda Mendoza, Chair
- TBD, Vice Chair
- Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle
- Councilor Ty Stober
- Naomi Axlelrod
- Hèctor Alejandro Varela-Betancourt
- Russell Ford
- Zatera Griffin
- Lee Rafferty
Committee meetings
Flag background
Vancouver’s first flag was adopted by the Vancouver City Council in 1993. It was designed internally with limited public engagement and has remained the City flag for 30+ years. As described in the 1993 Staff Report, the current flag design represents Vancouver’s “emergence as a “world-class city and its strength and natural beauty.” The City is seeking to create a flag that uses flag design best practices and is a recognizable symbol of Vancouver.
Design competition
The City invited the public to submit flag designs between March 24 and June 14 (Flag Day). Entries were required to follow a design brief to ensure the flags represent the community and meet basic flag design standards.
Design brief
According to Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag,” published by the North American Vexillological Association, a flag should be created following basic design principles. The Design Review Committee’s decision will be informed by the criteria outlined in this publication and additional design concepts. The requirements are as follows:
- Have enduring appeal that reflects the City, community values, diversity, and future aspirations.
- Use two or three basic colors that follow WCAG contrast standards for accessibility from the City’s color palette. Follow the instructions on how the primary and secondary colors work together.
- Simple design: no lettering, numbers, seals or logos.
- Be distinctive or related. The design should represent a cohesive theme with related components that connect with the City. Avoid duplicating other flags, but you may use similarities to show connections.
- The design should be easily understood when flown outside on a flagpole or displayed indoors beside the state and United States flags.
- Consider different uses. The flag will typically be 3 ft. x 5 ft. but may be reproduced in other sizes depending on its use on other products such as stickers, hats, pins, etc.
Designs will be disqualified if they:
- Are generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Contain religious symbols, depictions of violence, nudity, profanity, or political images or themes
- Interpreted as discriminatory, hateful or defamatory
- Reference alcohol, drugs, or illegal activities
- Submitted after the deadline
Prizes
- Credit for design in City communications channels
- Flag raising ceremony at a date to be determined
- Key to the City
- City flag
- Monetary prize (check back)