The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa Universal Carrier: Bringing history back to life
From late 2025 until early 2026, the Canadian War Museum’s Tank Shop team took on the project of restoring the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa Universal Carrier. It had been displayed outdoors for years. With a lot of care and attention, it was brought back to display condition.
Vehicle restoration at the Canadian War Museum
The Tank Shop at the War Museum is led by Michael Miller, Artifacts Restoration Preparator. Operations are supported by long-time volunteers. The shop is defined by hard work, shared expertise, and a strong commitment to preserving Canada’s military heritage.
Vehicles in the collection are restored to be as true to their original form as possible, using original parts wherever feasible. Museum staff work together using specialised knowledge to repair and restore the vehicles, prepare accurate historical markings, and in many cases, learn to operate them, too.
Many of the museum’s vehicles are fully operational. The collection includes nearly 200 vehicles, including 53 fully tracked armoured fighting vehicles, 24 tanks, and 47 trucks. They range from the First World War to the present day.
The challenges: corrosion and wear
When the Cameron’s Carrier first arrived, it showed significant deterioration after years of exposure to the elements sitting outside Cartier Square Drill Hall. Extensive corrosion had seized the tracks and braking systems, while the hull, wheels, and track assemblies required major repair.
The restoration began with a full assessment and careful disassembly, allowing the team to evaluate each component and determine the appropriate conservation approach.
The Carrier when it arrived at the Tank Shop. It has considerable visible corrosion.
Photo: Canadian War Museum
The process of restoration
A priority was addressing rust damage through cleaning, repair, and, where necessary, fabrication of replacement sections. The seized tracks and brakes required complete intervention, with parts dismantled, restored, replaced, or removed entirely, to ensure safe and functional operation.
Restoration involved removing the tracks and all markings for paint stripping and rust treatment.
Photo: Canadian War Museum
Extensive rust treatment was required to bring the Carrier back to life. Having been stripped and treated, the Carrier is ready to be painted again.
Photo: Canadian War Museum
Throughout the process, the team worked methodically to retain as much original material as possible while ensuring the Carrier’s durability. Grant Vogl, Collections Specialist, Arms and Technology, ensured that the correct markings were applied during the painting phase.
Building up the paint job began with primer.
Photo: Canadian War Museum
The restored Universal Carrier.
Photo: Canadian War Museum.
The end result
The result is a restored Universal Carrier that reflects the care, craftsmanship, and technical skill required to preserve complex military vehicles for the future. The Cameron Highlanders Universal Carrier, now safely back at Cartier Square Drill Hall, will forever be a teaching point for Canadians about Ottawa’s Own Regiment and Canada’s involvement in the Second World War, representing a symbol of both local, and national pride.
The Universal Carrier, before…
Photo: Canadian War Museum.
… and after.
Photo: Canadian War Museum.
This partnership between the Regiment and The War Museum achieved its goals of making an important community connection, helping a local reserve unit keep its history alive, and gained the Museum a new volunteer, Corporal Greg Thomas!
As a thank you from the Regiment, members of the restoration team were invited to attend the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa Association Dinner as special guests on April 11, 2026.
Canadian War Museum staff and volunteers pose with Barbara Farber, Honorary Colonel of The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa; Mark Gray, CD, Regimental Sergeant Major; and the freshly restored Universal Carrier.
Photo: Canadian War Museum
Morgan Wright
Morgan Wright is a Special Events and Public Programming Officer at the Canadian War Museum and the Canadian Museum of History. His 29 years in the museum sector have spanned special events, collections, and visitor services. Throughout his career, Morgan has been committed to developing meaningful public programs and events that foster engagement with Canada's military history and cultural heritage.
