Mississauga raises Christian flag for second annual Christian Heritage Month celebration

by Clare Marie Merkowsky

The Christian Heritage Month movement took off last year in Canada, with over 40 Canadian cities, towns, and villages recognizing it in December.

(LifeSiteNews) — Mississauga has raised the Christian Heritage Month banner over the city to mark its second celebration of Christian Heritage Month.

On December 3, Mississauga residents gathered at their town hall for the annual flag raising ceremony to mark the beginning of Christian Heritage Month, which celebrates Christian traditions during the month of December.

“Today the #Christian flag went up at Mississauga City Hall,” Mississauga City Councillor Dipika Damerla posted on Facebook, along with a video of the flag raising.

The event included an address from local pro-life politician Ghada Melek as well as Christmas carols. Participants were also led in prayer before hearing Gospel readings, including St. Matthew’s account of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Present at the event was Mayor Carolyn Parrish, councillors, pastors, and Christians from Mississauga.

“Today, we raised the Christian Flag at Mississauga Celebration Square in recognition of Christian Heritage Month,” city councillor Sue McFadden wrote on X. “For many, December is meaningful as it aligns with the Advent season and Christmas, honouring the history, traditions, and Christian communities in our diverse city.”

This is the second year that Mississauga has recognized Christian Heritage Month after the movement took off last year. In 2024, over 40 Canadian cities, towns, and villages recognized December as Christian Heritage Month.

Additionally, the province of Saskatchewan is the first province so far to make the proclamation. Major places in Ontario that have signed on include Ajax, Durham, Sudbury, Mississauga, Ottawa, and Niagara Falls. Alberta municipalities Red Deer and Okotoks have also signed on, as have Saskatchewan’s Regina and Saskatoon. In British Columbia, Whistler and Prince George have also signed on to the initiative.

The nation’s largest city, Toronto, also agreed to recognize Christian Heritage Month, despite many politicians arguing against the motion.

Historically, Canada is a Christian nation. European settlers who came to Canada from France and then later from modern-day United Kingdom were overwhelming Christian. Among those who came were missionaries who tried to spread their faith to the local Indigenous populations.