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 City of Duluth selects new flag

[Duluth, MN] The City of Duluth has selected a new flag. A resolution to adopt the new city flag will be a part of the August 19 City Council agenda, which follows a robust community led process.

Blane Tetreault (pronounced Tay-tro), was selected as the overall winner of the contest. “This was a once in a lifetime opportunity to contribute to a community that I love,” Tetreault said. “My goal in participating in this project was to help establish a symbol that represents the rich history, culture, and natural beauty of Duluth.”

The idea to design a new city flag was brought forward during the Imagine Duluth 2035 community engagement process.

“Flag design, or vexillology, came up as a Big Idea during the Vision Committee process for Imagine Duluth 2035. As we explored the idea, it was clear that citizens weren’t widely aware that Duluth had a city flag.  We also learned that the current flag’s design isn’t always considered an inclusive symbol for all Duluthians,” said Adam Fulton, Interim Director of the City Planning and Economic Development Department. “The Duluth Flag project was created from that original feedback, and provided a forum for a community-driven process.”

The community was asked to submit designs for a chance to create Duluth’s next flag in January of 2019. The city received a total of 195 submissions from 98 artists who were from across Minnesota, the United States and international.

An ad hoc Flag Committee was created by Mayor Larson, who helped to narrow the submitted designs to nine finalists. The Committee was made up of nine individuals who volunteered their time for this project. Representatives on the committee were made up of artists, youth, and community members.

From there, the public once again was asked to rank their favorites using an online survey, or paper voting stations at Duluth public libraries. Mayor Larson and the Flag Committee completed a final review of those rankings before announcing the final design.

Flag Design Statement:

The colors found in this flag represent the clear blue of the sky, refreshing water of Lake Superior, deep green of the north woods, and snowy winters.

The design acknowledges the ancestral and contemporary presence of the Anishinaabeg - and many other Tribal Nations - who have called this community Misaabekong (“the place of the giants”) home for millennia. The design symbolizes the rolling water of Onigamiising (“the place of the small portage”) where the water meets and where people have always gathered to meet.  Together, we call this gathering place: Duluth. Our home.

The design symbolizes Duluth's hills and designates some of the area's most prominent topographical features: Thompson Hill, Enger Hill, and Hawk's Ridge. Polaris, the North Star, is perched above the city.  The star symbolizes the Zenith City of the North, a leader of the northern sky and center of all good things.

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