A kayak that belonged to Sir Frederick Banting is on public display for the first time after having been treated at CCI.
Banting, who isolated insulin as a treatment for diabetes, acquired the kayak in 1928 while on a trip in northern Quebec and Labrador with Group of Seven member A.Y. Jackson. It had been stored in a barn for many years when his family donated it to the South Simcoe Pioneer Museum in Banting's home town of Alliston, Ontario. However, when given to the museum it was in such poor and damaged condition that it could not be displayed. CCI was asked to undertake treatment of the kayak in 1998. Made of sealskin and later repaired with canvas, this kayak presented major treatment challenges that required the expertise of conservators from a variety of disciplines.
Developing a pattern for the new supporting canvas: Kraft paper templates were developed first; these were transferred to cotton which was then closely fitted to the required shape of the kayak; the cotton templates were then transferred to acrylic canvas (which had been chosen as the new supporting canvas.)
At a special event held Oct 1 at the South Simcoe Pioneer Museum to welcome back the Banting kayak Tom Stone (left), Senior Conservator, Ethnology discusses the treatment with Larry Keogh, Mayor of the Town of New Tecumseth (centre) and Ralph Wilding, New Tecumseth Town Crier and volunteer at the South Simcoe Pioneer Museum.
One side of the new supporting canvas in place: note the tabs on the left side which are tied to the structural elements to maintain the tautness of the canvas; the original canvas has been folded back away from either side of the kayak.
