Strange Items You Can Request From the Canadian Government

This might surprise you, but there are quite a few interesting things you can request from the government items they will actually send you if you take the time to ask! Now, there’s nothing huge or expensive on the list, but these are all real things that are genuinely up for grabs.

A Flag That Flew on Parliament Hill

A real Canadian flag that actually flew above Parliament Hill can be yours.

Every weekday, the Peace Tower flag is replaced, and the retired one goes to a Canadian who requested it. But here’s the catch: the waitlist is so long, it’s over 100 years! So if you sign up today, your great grand kids will have a nice gift in about 100 years!

A Whole Bunch of Canada‑Themed Swag

The federal government offers a treasure trove of freebies for national celebrations.

You can request things like:

Handheld Canadian flags
Maple leaf temporary tattoos
Canada flag stickers
Historical flag posters
Coat of Arms posters and booklets

They’re meant for educational use and holidays, but anyone can request them through the Department of Canadian Heritage.

An Official Royal Portrait

You can request an official portrait of King Charles or Queen Elizabeth II (and in some cases, past royal family members), printed in a formal 14×17 format. Canadians have been doing this for decades, and the government still fulfills these requests you’ll pay shipping if you want a physical copy.