Giant Canadian flag on Grouse Mountain part of world record attempt

Social media has been ablaze with questions about a massive Canadian flag that appeared on Grouse Mountain this week.

A new landmark is visible over the Vancouver skyline, and its creators expect it will earn a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Grouse Mountain Resort has unfurled what it says is the largest Canadian flag ever displayed on a mountain as part of an effort to welcome visitors to the city for the FIFA World Cup.

The flag measures 160 metres by 80 metres—roughly the size of two football fields—and weighs approximately 3,000 pounds.

The current record for the largest flag unfurled on a mountain is held by Mongolia.

More than 70 people were involved in the installation on a ski run overlooking the city, surpassing the previous record of 140 metres by 70 metres, according to the resort.

“This is a moment designed to be seen not just from the mountain, but from across the city, from the sky, and around the world,” said Adam Rootman, the senior director of marketing at Grouse Mountain Resort, in a statement.

“As Vancouver welcomes international visitors, we wanted to put our support behind the home squad in a way that is truly unforgettable.”

Grouse Mountain initially intended to set a record for the largest Canadian flag ever produced, but that is not a category that Guinness adjudicates.

“So unofficially, it’s the largest Canadian flag ever produced,” Rootman said in an interview.

The resort’s record-setting attempt was still being assessed Wednesday morning, but Rootman said the team was successful in earning its place in the record book.

Flag etiquette concerns

Some observers have noted, however, that the flag’s location and its orientation appear to breach the federal government’s guidelines for appropriate display.

The official government etiquette dictates that the flag should not "touch the ground."

Additionally, when displayed vertically, the top of the maple leaf should point to the left from the observer’s point of view.

“Ultimately, we kind of let the slope dictate the orientation and it’s the kind of thing that is viewable from multiple different touchpoints across the city,” Rootman said, adding the gesture is intended to showcase the resort’s Canadian pride in a respectful way.

“We’re not going to be making any modifications at this point.”