Massive Canadian – Grouse Mountain in Vancouver unveiled what it calls Canada’s biggest flag—160 metres long and 80 metres wide—stretching it across a ski run. The display is visible across Burrard Inlet and Guinness World Records certification is said to be imminent, but questi
When the Canadian flag finally came into view across Burrard Inlet, it wasn’t just a seasonal spectacle—it was a statement meant for the home team.
On Wednesday. Grouse Mountain Resort in Metro Vancouver unveiled what it says is the largest Canadian flag ever made. unfurling it across The Cut. a ski run on Grouse Mountain. The fabric spans 160 metres long by 80 metres tall—described by the resort as about the size of two football fields—and can be seen from across the water.
Blast Media Print, the B.C. company that made the flag, says it used special weather-resistant fabric for the display. The resort says the flag weighs more than 1,500 kilograms and that more than 100 people were involved in stretching it over the ski run.
There is one complication: the flag appears to breach etiquette set out by the federal government. which says national flags should never touch the ground. Grouse Mountain’s senior director of marketing. Adam Rootman. said Wednesday that he understood it was acceptable for the flag to be displayed on the ground.
“From our perspective, we’re just looking to do something really patriotic and an activation that was respectful to the flag and to our country. So, that’s what we feel is an important part of the overall installation,” Rootman said.
Rootman said he took part in the installation on Tuesday and added that no trees were removed during the setup. He described the purpose as welcoming fans and visitors looking for something distinctly Canadian during the World Cup.
“I felt a lot of pride in Vancouver and in Canada, and we’re just excited about supporting the home squad during the World Cup, and hoping that guests who come into the city will come up to Grouse to enjoy our authentic Canadian experiences that we have here,” he said.
Grouse Mountain says certification by Guinness World Records as the largest flag ever displayed on a mountain is imminent. In a statement, the resort said the display was supported by Destination Vancouver and Destination BC.
The resort is clearly tying the installation to the World Cup schedule at BC Place in Vancouver. The first of seven World Cup matches at the stadium kicks off on June 13, with Australia facing Turkey. Canada plays Qatar at the stadium on June 18, and Switzerland on June 24.
Guinness World Records currently lists the largest draped national flag as a flag of Qatar, measuring about 510 metres by 200 metres. Canada’s flag. though. already holds a different Guinness distinction: the smallest national flag ever created—a design etched onto a silicon wafer by the Institute for Quantum Computing in Waterloo. Ont. in 2016. That design is just 0.697 square micrometres—about one hundredth of the width of a human hair.
The Grouse Mountain display, according to the resort, is more than 18 quadrillion times bigger.
Vancouver Grouse Mountain Canadian flag World Cup BC Place Guinness World Records Blast Media Print tourism Destination BC Destination Vancouver
Huge flag?? love it.
So they’re mad it touches the ground? That seems kinda nitpicky. It’s literally a flag on a ski run, not like they’re wiping the floor with it.
Wait I thought etiquette rules meant you can’t like… disrespect it? But if it’s “patriotic” then it’s okay? Also 160 meters sounds fake, like they measured it with a phone or something. World Cup fans gonna climb the flag or what?
This is the kind of thing that always turns into a debate for no reason. The article says it’s 1,500 kilograms and 100 people, so clearly it’s been dragged on the ground the whole time?? I don’t get how they can call it respectful if it’s not following the “never touch the ground” thing. Also “imminent” Guinness certification means nothing to me, Guinness will certify anything if it’s big enough. Next they’ll say the trees didn’t get moved but still…