Fredericton raises Palestinian flag, joining other cities for the first time

Under a bright winter sun, the Palestinian flag was raised at Fredericton City Hall on Monday, December 1 before a joyful community gathering of around 50 people. The ceremony was made possible by the efforts of Chantelle Paiu, a second-generation Palestinian and community organizer in Fredericton.

Paiu called the ceremony a defining moment for Fredericton. “These are the traditions that shape a city and ones that will reflect who we are becoming together,” she told the crowd. Paiu stressed the flag was not a political symbol, but a representation of Palestinian life and heritage. “This flag does not speak about politics; this flag is about our people, our culture, our land, our stories and our survival. It speaks about our right to be visible,” she said.

The flag raising ceremony was opened by Wolastoq Grand Council Chief Ron Tremblay, also known as Spasaqit Possesom. Speaking from a shared history of colonial violence, he connected the current genocide in Gaza to the experiences of Indigenous peoples in Canada. “Our people have gone through the same struggles, so we want to honour and stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people,” Tremblay said.

After the flag was raised, the ceremony turned into a celebration. Attendees hugged, cheered, and danced, with many, including Paiu, moved to tears.

Paiu’s call to action for Fredericton is to seek out Palestinian stories “beyond the suffering,” and to learn about the culture, joy, and history of her people. She urged the community not to stop there, but to also learn about the struggles in Sudan, Congo, Yemen, and in local Indigenous communities, noting that “all liberation is connected.”

“Let this flag be more than a symbol,” Paiu said. “Let it be an opening and invitation to learn, to listen, and to expand how we understand one another.”

City Councillor Ruth Breen, whom Paiu credited with helping her navigate the city’s procedures to make the flag-raising possible, said the event sent a clear message. “It’s important that we recognize communities in our city,” said Breen. “And it’s important that everyone who seeks peace feels welcome here in Fredericton. I think by the turnout today, by the hugs and the joy, that is what you see.”

However, Paiu said the approval process involved significant back-and-forth with the city of Fredericton. Her initial request to raise the flag on November 29, the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, was denied by the city, stating that Canada does not recognize the day. However, after Paiu cited Canada’s recent recognition of Palestinian statehood, the city approved the event for Dec. 1.

The bureaucratic reluctance from the city was a stark contrast to the positive sentiment among attendees, many of whom felt the flag should be raised more widely. Viqar Husain, a professor at the University of New Brunswick, said raising the Palestinian flag at City Hall was important but long overdue. “Now it’s the legislature and UNB where we need to raise the flag!” Husain said.

David Coon, leader of the Green Party of New Brunswick, expressed similar sentiments, saying the legislature should “follow suit” after praising City Hall for having the courage to raise the Palestinian flag. “It’s an extraordinary day for Fredericton, for New Brunswick, to have the Palestinian flag raised a couple months after the Canadian government recognized the state of Palestine,” he said.

However, Coon’s presence at the flag raising ceremony drew criticism from other attendees who saw it as a sign of shifting politics rather than genuine solidarity. Emery Hatchard, a community organizer, argued that politicians were only showing support for Palestine now that doing so had become less politically risky, particularly after Canada’s official recognition of Palestinian statehood.

“It’s definitely a good gesture, but it’s also a sign that public opinion is really shifting,” Hatchard said. “If you’re only showing up now, after more than two years, it’s pretty clear that you’re just taking advantage of the fact that it’s less controversial. So, it’s still a little disappointing.”

Fellow community organizer Reena Cabanilla expressed similar frustration. “I’m happy David Coon showed up after more than two years of silence,” Cabanilla said.

Frustration with delayed political support was countered by the presence of a community that had shown up in force. The joyful, celebratory spirit of the event was amplified by the presence of local organizations like the Atlantic Canada Palestinian Society, Manarat Fredericton, Fredericton Palestine Solidarity, Lamsitna, and the Soul of Falasteen Society.

Dora Szemok is a community organizer and graduate student at the University of New Brunswick.