Removing the linen canvas ceiling in the House of Commons Chamber

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[Music plays]

(Text on screen: Public Services and Procurement Canada)

[Pan inside an empty House of Commons.]

The House of Commons Chamber holds some of the most precious heritage assets found on Parliament Hill.

[Image of linen canvas ceiling.]

[Tilt from House of Commons Chamber public gallery to the linen canvas ceiling.]

One of the Chamber’s most magnificent pieces of art is the linen canvas ceiling.

[Image of Canadian Coat of Arms shield inserted in a medallion at the intersection of diagonal bands.]

[Image of Quebec Coat of Arms inserted in a medallion at the intersection of diagonal bands.]

[Image of Northwest Territories Coat of Arms inserted in a medallion at the intersection of diagonal bands.]

Created in the Gothic Revival style, the painted linen panels illustrate the Canadian, provincial and territorial coats of arms.

[Pan of linen canvas ceiling cove showcasing the turquoise-green colour and gilded honeycomb mesh.]

[Image of gold detail below the ceiling, including grotesques and gold leaf cornices.]

[Close-up of linen canvas ceiling.]

The turquoise and gilded ceiling cove was designed to enhance the Chamber’s acoustics; cork was also added to the plaster to help dampen the sound.

[Close-up of gold grotesque décor.]

[Close-up of gold owl décor.]

The decorative elements also include grotesques, which often represent protection, and owls as a symbol of wisdom.

[Pan of gold and turquoise-green details below the ceiling cove.]

[Pan from below of the linen canvas ceiling and the turquoise-green colour and gilded honeycomb mesh.]

In 1965, the panels were cleaned and repainted for Canada’s Centennial celebrations in 1967.

[Image of scaffolding inside the House of Commons Chamber.]

[Pan of scaffolding and worker’s table just below the linen canvas ceiling. Workers are walking in the background.]

During the fall of 2019, scaffolding was installed throughout the Chamber to provide easy access to the ceiling.

[Image of worker in protective suit and hard hat standing on a ladder. The worker is holding a hose.]

To protect the linen canvas ceiling during the renovation work, conservators needed to carefully remove it and prepare it for long-term storage.

[Image of two workers wearing protective suits and hard hats. They are carefully lowering panels of the linen canvas ceiling. Two other workers are also nearby.]

Specialized equipment was required to carefully support the ceiling panels while they were being removed.

[Image of workers rolling up a panel of the linen canvas ceiling.]

The panels were delicately rolled and covered with protective sheeting.

[Image from another angle of workers rolling up a panel of the linen canvas ceiling.]

They will be stored at the Centre Block heritage storage facility.

[Pan of linen canvas ceiling from the scaffolding. Workers are in the background talking.]

[Image of workers carefully removing another panel of the linen canvas ceiling.]

The linen panels will be examined in detail to determine how best to conserve this unique architectural feature.

[Image of workers cutting the seam between two panels of the linen canvas ceiling.]

The ongoing work within this iconic building ensures the Centre Block will continue to serve Canada and Canadians in the 21st century and beyond.

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(Public Services and Procurement Canada signature)

(Canada Wordmark)

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