The colours of the maple leaf through the changing seasons became the basis for this asymmetric tartan designed by David Weiser in 1964. Known officially as the Maple Leaf tartan, the pattern incorporates the green of the leaves' summer foliage, the gold which appears in early autumn, the red which appears with the coming of the first frost, and the brown tones of the fallen leaves. Fraser & Kirkbright say (September 2002) it was made for Highland Queen in anticipation of the centenary of Canada's Dominion status in 1867.