Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas said that he would continue participating in local cultural traditions at city hall, like the menorah lighting, as the city considers a national flag ban.

Councillors approved a Notice of Motion on the consent agenda of the Executive Committee on Tuesday, paving the way for debate of the City of Calgary’s flag policy.

Ward 13 Coun. Dan McLean and Mayor Farkas have supported the call for no national flags to be flown outside Calgary city hall on the courtesy flagpole in the municipal plaza. The item will now come to the Dec. 15 meeting of council for full debate.

“What was once intended as a unifying and symbolic gesture has increasingly become a source of division in our community,” McLean told councillors when the item failed to be added to the agenda as a matter of urgent business on Nov. 18.

“Recently, this practice has been used in ways that have inflamed tensions, including instances where it has been associated with antisemitic messaging and behaviour.”

The flag flap was stirred up in early November as Calgary’s Palestinian community prepared to raise their state flag outside Calgary city hall.

During a break in the Executive Committee meeting on Tuesday, Mayor Farkas said he would be advocating to his colleagues to have a “more fair and neutral and inclusive” flag policy.

“Obviously, there’s going to be some rigorous debate around what the policy should be, and I stand by my early comments on this about City Hall needing to be an inclusive neutral space for us flying flags of other nations at a time of such incredible geopolitical tumult. It doesn’t send the right signal,” he said.

“We need to be here for absolutely every single community in Calgary and being pulled into some of the geopolitical challenges that are happening around the world only makes public spaces like city hall less safe.”

Showing up for all communities

In December 2023, amid the ongoing Israel and Hamas conflict, former Mayor Jyoti Gondek refused to attend the annual menorah lighting at city hall.  She had said that in the past, it had been an event to bring a traditional greeting celebrating Hannukkah, but the event had turned political.

“This last-minute change goes against the original intention and has left me feeling let down by leadership. I am saddened that this change makes it impossible for me to attend tomorrow’s event. And I am incredibly concerned that people wishing to celebrate Hannukkah will have their good intentions compromised,” the former mayor posted to X (formerly Twitter) at the time.

The event went ahead as scheduled.

When asked if attending the menorah lighting was picking sides in the tense international conflict, Mayor Farkas said that he would personally continue to support and participate in these faith-based initiatives. He confirmed that he would be participating in the menorah lighting and looking forward to being there.

“As mayor, I need to show up for absolutely every single community in the city, and I am proud to support the Jewish community at a time when they’re facing significant challenges and threats due to the rising tide of antisemitism,” he said.  

“It doesn’t stop there. It’s not just choosing the Jewish community. It’s choosing to show up for our Muslim neighbours as well, calling out and combating the growing, rising tide of Islamophobia as well.”

Farkas said that he wouldn’t be picking one community at the expense of others.

“My job as mayor, it’s to show up to take part in community, to celebrate Christmas, to celebrate Hanukkah, and to the extent possible, use my platform to help lower the temperature and showcase how Calgarians are better when we’re together,” he said.

This year, the annual menorah lighting at city hall will take place Dec. 15 at 5:30 p.m.