KITCHENER – After a long 16-year wait, a Kitchener man has received one of the many Canadian flags to mark the skies above the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
Mike Wiescneski, a former Fergus resident now living in Kitchener, received his flag in August after applying for the flag in July of 2008.
Wiescneski says he got the idea after reading about another recipient in the Wellington Advertiser.
However, despite waiting for 16 years, Wiescneski said he wasn’t expecting the flag for a few more years.
“When I first applied, at that time, I was told it would be 20 years and I got it in 16, so I think that’s pretty cool,” he said.
Constructed from 1919 to 1922, the Peace Tower was built as a memorial to the many Canadian soldiers who have fought for freedom throughout history. It is one of the most widely recognized symbols of Canada, along with the Canadian flag.
Standing 92.2 metres tall, the tower flies a massive Canadian flag above the city of Ottawa. The flag is changed daily, Monday to Friday, and on days when it is flown at half-mast.
To receive a flag, you must be a Canadian citizen and complete the request form on the Government of Canada website, where you can select which type of flag you want.
The application process is completely free, however the current wait time to receive a flag exceeds 100 years.
Along with his flag, Wiescneski also received a letter of authentication that states his flag flew above the Peace Tower from July 22 to 23 of this year.
And while Wiescneski says those dates don’t hold too much significance for him, the day he opened the flag does.
“When I opened it the day after I picked it up, it was actually my 40th birthday,” said Wiescneski, “so that gave the day a nice little splash of special.”
For more information on the application process and wait times, click here.
