Be a part of City history: Vancouver invites the public to reimagine the city’s flag
March 26, 2025
Vancouver, Wash. – During Monday’s State of the City address, Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle invited the public to participate in a design competition to create a new city flag for Vancouver.
“This is an opportunity for the public to help shape the identity of our community and be a part of Vancouver’s history,” said Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle. “We hope to create an enduring symbol of Vancouver that inspires a sense of belonging and unity among residents.”
How to participate
Visit www.cityofvancouver.us/flag for full contest rules and the design brief. Entries that do not follow the design brief will be disqualified. All ages are eligible to enter. Submissions by those under 18 will be accepted when submitted by a parent or legal guardian.
The submission portal will open in April, and designs are due by midnight on Flag Day, June 14. Participants may submit one design.
The contest winner will receive credit for their design in City communications, a flag-raising ceremony, the Key to the City, and a City flag. Additional prize(s) will be announced later.
Judging process
The City Council will appoint a Design Review Committee at an upcoming council meeting. The Committee will be responsible for selecting 10 flags as finalists.
An online poll later this summer will invite Vancouver residents to share their preferred designs from the 10 finalists. The committee will use that information to inform the final design selection and one 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.
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.”
For more information, visit www.cityofvancouver.us/flag.
###