Request a proclamation

On this page

• Proclamation Submission Guidelines
• Submission timeline
• Review timeline
• Information to include in a request
• Requests involving health-related topics
• Requests related to multiculturalism or anti-racism
• Special requests for early delivery

Proclamation submission guidelines

Please review these guidelines before requesting a proclamation.

Suitable occasions or events for proclamations are those that observe milestones, recognize achievements or direct attention to a worthy cause.

Before beginning your proclamation request, ensure that your chosen topic:

• Has significance or general application to BC
• Does not directly conflict with or significantly overlap with other proclamations made in the same year
• Is apolitical and would not be considered offensive or frivolous by the public

Submission timeline

Submit requests for proclamations 8 to 10 weeks before the date of the occasion or event to be proclaimed. If your request is related to multiculturalism or anti-racism, submit your request at least 14 weeks before the date to be proclaimed.

Submit new requests each year for annually recurring occasions or events, which are subject to the same review process.

Normally, proclamation requests will not be considered if they are submitted:

• Fewer than 6 weeks before the date to be proclaimed (or fewer than 14 weeks for requests related to multiculturalism or anti-racism)
• More than 6 months before the date to be proclaimed
• For dates that have already passed

Review timeline

Requests are prioritized in order of requested dates and are reviewed by the BC Proclamations Program and the ministry responsible. Proclamations are then submitted for review and signature by the Attorney General and the Lieutenant Governor.

Requests for proclamations may be approved, revised or declined at any stage of review.

Even if approved in previous years, or approved by one or more reviewers, proclamations cannot be assumed to proceed until finalized.

Information to include in a request

Email the following information to BCProclamations@gov.bc.ca:

• Contact information
• Proclamation title and date(s)
• Draft proclamation
• Sources for data, statistics or claims (if any)

Contact information

Provide your full name, organization name (if applicable) and email address. If the proclamation is approved and finalized, a PDF copy will be emailed to you. If you would like a signed printed copy, provide your mailing address (not a PO Box).

Title and date(s)

Include the proposed title (ending in “Day,” “Week” or “Month”) and date(s) of the requested proclamation. If applicable, include any special timing request (see Special requests for early delivery).

Draft proclamation

Include proposed wording for the “Whereas” clauses only of the proclamation, formatted as a series of 3 to 5 complete sentences. If your request was proclaimed in the past 3 years, you can instead request that the previous year’s proclamation language be used as your draft submission.

See Example draft proclamation for a sample outline and examples.

Review your draft proclamation and make sure the proposed wording:

• Has a clear and focused subject 
• Shows significance or general application to BC
• Follows plain language principles and BC government guidelines for Inclusive Language and Terms
• Does not assume beliefs or opinions on behalf of people in British Columbia or any group of people generally
• Avoids first person pronouns (I, my, we, our)

Sources for data, statistics or claims (if any)

Provide authoritative sources or references for any data, statistics or claims in your draft proclamation.

Requests involving health-related topics

For requests involving health-related topics, omit any numbers, dates, statistics and any detailed medical information.

The Ministry of Health has determined that this type of information is not appropriate to include in health-related proclamations, which should be of a general nature and not include information more appropriately distributed by health authorities, by medical professionals or on other platforms.

Requests related to multiculturalism or anti-racism

For requests related to multiculturalism or anti-racism, there is a 14-week submission deadline.

If you are not sure whether your request is multiculturalism or anti-racism related, email us at BCProclamations@gov.bc.ca.

The Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Branch, within the Ministry of Attorney General, will not consider proclamations on anti-racism or multiculturalism if they are submitted fewer than 14 weeks before the date to be proclaimed.

Special requests for early delivery

To request delivery of a proclamation before the date of the occasion or event being proclaimed, your proclamation request should:

• Clearly indicate the special timing request and date for early delivery
• Be submitted
  • at least 6 to 8 weeks before the requested early delivery date, in most cases, or 
  • at least 14 weeks before the requested early delivery date, for requests related to multiculturalism or anti-racism
• Identify if a printed copy is required, in addition to the electronic PDF copy that will be emailed to you. Mailing timelines cannot be guaranteed