Opening Ceremony 

& Banner Parade 

Opening Ceremony

Friday, May 19, 6:30 pm ET (find your local time)
 In person at the Theatre, Robert C. Gillett Student Commons, and livestreamed on the CUC's YouTube channel 

Join us for a lively ceremony as we open our weekend together with music, reflection, and community. 

The Symposium Team, CUC Board of Trustees, and UU Ministers of Canada (UUMOC) are looking forward to welcoming you with our traditional banner parade, and messages of love and faith. 

If you cannot attend in person, our Opening Ceremony and the Confluence Lecture immediately following it will both be livestreamed on the CUC's YouTube Channel. 

Just as one candle lights another and can light thousands of other candles, so one heart illuminates another heart and can illuminate thousands of other hearts. 

~ Leo Tolstoy 

Banner Parade!

The banner parade is a Canadian Unitarian Council institution, and this year the tradition continues. Our banners are a unique representation of our communities, and we would love to have yours in the parade. 

In-person participants, please bring your congregation’s banner to the CUC symposium in Ottawa, Ontario.  Banners will be displayed during the symposium.  

We can't wait to see your banners! 

Please pick up your banner by 5:00 pm ET on Sunday, May 21. The CUC is not responsible for forgotten and lonely banners.  

How to Parade and Display your Banners

The banner parade takes place on Friday, May 19th at 6:30 pm ET at the Commons Theatre in the Robert C. Gillett building. Banner carriers, please bring your banner and banner pole and meet by the entrance of the Commons Theatre. The Parade Marshall will be there to greet you. You will parade into the theatre with your congregation's banner on its pole, and then exit and place your banner on prepared banner stands. You will then join the other participants in the theatre. 

How to Make a Banner Pole

Follow these instructions for how to make a pole to carry your banner (if your congregation doesn't already have one or can't find it) from the Unitarian Universalist Association General Assembly. Substiute "CUC Symposium' for GA, and voila - banner pole!

PLEASE remember to bring your own banner pole - the CUC won't have any extra poles!