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Loud and annoying but smart, social and hardy. That’s a magpie.

To Dustin Bajer, those characteristics are also emblematic of Edmonton, which is why he has made the black-and-white bird the prominent image on what he hopes could become the new municipal flag.

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“The magpie sticks it out for the winter,” says the beekeeper and high school teacher, who is one of several regular Edmonton residents volunteering redesigns for the official flag. “And if we’re honest with ourselves, it’s pretty.”

Edmonton’s current municipal flag turns 50 in 2017. There’s been lots of chatter about redesigning it in recent years, but the idea is gaining traction in more official corridors — including in the office of Mayor Don Iveson.

Iveson is currently entranced by a flag that was designed by Edmonton artist Ryan McCourt. The design was submitted this spring to a Treaty 6 art contest, where it won support from a panel of elders. In August, during treaty recognition ceremonies, Grand Chief Randy Ermineskin gave it to Iveson as a gift.