Gigantic flag almost at goal

By Zander Kelly

Windsor can get ready for a new boost of national pride as the Great Canadian Flag Project gets closer to completion.

The Great Canadian Flag Project was first proposed in 1980 by Thomas McDade. His idea was to have a large Canadian flag being constructed on the riverfront. In fact, the pole was to be positioned north of Ouellette avenue, at the intersection of Riverside Drive and would stand 150 ft tall, with a 30 ft by 60 ft Canadian flag on top.

The project was left untouched until 2012, when a letter was issued to city council proposing the project once again.

City of Windsor manager of parks development Mike Clement said he was approached by Peter Hrastovec in late 2012 about the project and found the flagpole lines up perfectly with the Central Riverfront Implementation Plan. This plan is a 25-year project which started in 2000 to ensure the care of our riverfront.

A detailed proposal was directed to the city clerk on May 8, 2013. On Feb. 17, 2015 in a unanimous decision of city council, the Great Canadian Flag Project was officially approved.

“Some people think the flag is too big and will offend our friends in Detroit,” said Hrastovec. “But how much pride is too much? As Americans go, we’ve polled Americans and asked in Detroit and they say they love Canada and “why shouldn’t Windsor have the flag?”

On the location of the flag, Hrastovec said a lot of people thought about Ouellette and Riverside because it lines up with Ouellette Avenue.

“Not that we want to take away from the Detroit skyline,” said Hrastovec. “But Windsor is symbolic of our country in some people’s’ minds because that’s where Canada begins.”

Hrastovec said at the current rate, the flag should be fully completed in spring 2017. The exact location of the flag will be at the entrance to Dieppe Gardens, a historically important part of the waterfront for its memorials and natural beauty. Additional information about the project can be found at http://www.greatcanadianflag.com.