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With a little help from CCI, Canada’s first maple leaf flag has returned to Parliament Hill. On February 15, 2006, exactly 41 years after it was raised, newly elected Prime Minister Stephen Harper unveiled the flag at a special ceremony in honour of Flag Day. In preparation for its official return, CCI thoroughly documented and analysed the flag, and gave it some minimal treatment. We are honoured to have played a role in restoring this Canadian icon.
Canada’s distinctive maple leaf flag was first flown from the Peace Tower on February 15, 1965. That first flag has been in the possession of Lucien Lamoureux, Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons at that time, and his family for more than 40 years. His widow, Madame Hoffman Lamoureux, returned it to Canada at the end of June 2005. It is now part of the permanent collection of the House of Commons.
The flag consists of a stylized 11-point maple leaf printed on nylon. It measures approximately 2.25 m (7.5 feet) high by 4.50 m (15 feet) wide, and is made of four panels of fabric and a sleeve with a running eye and toggle. The red-orange colour (its original colour) is a stark contrast to the red-blue colour of today’s flag.
CCI staff viewed the flag on the morning of July 1, 2005, at the request of David Monaghan, Curator of the House of Commons. Overall it appeared to be in good condition, although it was somewhat distorted along the seams. As a result of the distortions, the measurements of the flag varied and it did not lie completely flat. The flag was also soiled overall, with visible signs of dirt along the seams — particularly the outer seams.
We began treatment of the flag with a thorough documentation including overall shots in black-and-white, and overall and detail shots in colour photographs and digital images.
Numerous tests were subsequently carried out. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to identify the flag material. Results showed that the flag and sewing thread were Nylon 6,6. In situ surface pH tests were taken prior to wet cleaning. Colour measurements were carried out before and after wet cleaning. The after-treatment colour measurements will serve as a standard from which future colour measurements can be compared.
Treatment of the flag was minimal. First we mechanically surface cleaned it, front and back, using a low level of suction and a protective screen. The next step was wet cleaning, a decision we made in consultation with David Monaghan. Prior to carrying out the procedure, washfastness tests were undertaken to ensure that the dye and markings were not fugitive.
Due to ongoing renovations, we could not conduct the wet cleaning at CCI. However, Parks Canada generously allowed us to use its Textile Lab and equipment. We washed the flag, supported on nylon screens, in a large (approximately 3.0 m x 2.0 m) stainless steel wash tank. Due to its size, the bottom edge and the fly side had to be folded over to accommodate it in the wash table. We pre-soaked the flag in filtered tap water followed by one detergent bath, in which it was lightly agitated with natural sponges. Three rinses followed the detergent bath. Conductivity and pH tests of the water were
taken throughout the wet cleaning process. Analysis of the third rinse water revealed no detectable surfactant residue, indicating there was no need for another rinse. We laid the flag flat to air dry, and aligned the distorted sleeve end. The flag dried within an hour, and was rolled for transport back to CCI where it was stored flat to minimize creasing.
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