Details
Started as a simple love for the Canadian flag, The Flag Store is now one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of the Canadian flag in the country.
Gordon and Beth Burke began sewing and selling their Canadian flags with their 8 children and a number of locals in their Thornton home in 1965. As word spread about the quality of the Burke’s Canadian flags, the demand for their product continued to grow.
The original store in 1965. Located in Thornton, Ontario.
50 years later, daughter of Gordon and Beth, Cecilia Burke, is now continuing to run the family business as CEO and President of The Flag Store. The original Flag Store location is still operating today as a retail store at 234 Barrie Street (hwy 27), Thornton.
The Original Flag Store now. Image Courtesy of Southern Ontario Discovered.
The Flag Store has also now expanded to a new 11 000 square ft. head office and factory located at 176 Saunders Road, Barrie.
The head office and factory located in Barrie.
At this location, Canadian flags are sewn on site and an endless variety of custom flags and banners are produced.
The Flag Store is the only Canadian flag distributor that makes their own flags domestically. The most common size for a Canadian flag is 3 ft x 6 ft, but the ratio of 1:2 can be multiplied to any size.
There are currently 14 on site sewers constructing the perfect Canadian flag every time.
Cutting excess fabric after the leaf has been stitched on ensures crisp and clean lines.
It is estimated that the flag store produces approximately 2 million flags a year. During Canada’s 150th anniversary year, they did over 3 million.
Custom flags and banners are available to be made from a variety of weights and materials including nylon, polyester, paper and vinyl. Employees will choose the appropriate medium to make a flag that looks good and keeps your costs at a minimum.
Sewn Canadian flags are a stand-out among other varieties.
There are also a number of specialty options for the shape of custom flags including teardrops and blade banners, street banners and pennant strings.
These flags are an option that is both attention grabbing, and easy to manage.
Customers can anticipate approximately 2 weeks for their custom flag to be ready. Under most regular wind conditions, a flag will last many months. Their lifespan will vary dependent on the weather conditions they are exposed to. Freezing rain is the most difficult weather element to battle.
The Thornton store, has a wide assortment of ready-made flags to choose from for any occasion.
A variety of international, religious and seasonal flags are available.
Flag rental and installation is another service available. A full-time installation team equipped with a 45 ft reach bucket truck is ready to travel anywhere to get flags set up.
Set ups and take downs are available for short notice and temporary installations for events such as weekend festivals.
The Flag Store is equipped for seasonal set ups and take downs of flags such as this one.
There are a number of flagpoles to choose from to suit the needs of the flag. Some of these varieties include indoor, outdoor, wall mounted, roof mounted, steel, aluminum, and fiberglass poles. Fiberglass flag poles have a noise deadening construction, meaning there won’t be any noisy halyard clanging.
Flagpoles imported from Sweden of the highest quality fiberglass.
Beautiful banners on a fiberglass flagpole such as this one, can be seen downtown Barrie.
A variety of bases are also available to further customize the set up of any flag.
Many bases, such as these, come from Truform Plastics in Barrie.
The Flag Store also offers a disposal service. They will send flags that are no longer of use, to local scouting groups so that they can be burned in a dignified manner.
