Watch and hear history come alive as powerful military vehicles rumble into action!
Free with general admission
Join us for a thrill-filled weekend as the War Museum brings some of its cherished vehicle collection out of the galleries and onto the demo track for a weekend of awesome activities Don’t miss it!
Get up close. Chat with the drivers and volunteers. Learn how these machines worked — and why they matter.
Friday evening
Saturday and Sunday
Activity
Military Vehicle Demonstrations
Included with admission
Activity
Special displays and activities
Free
Talk
Tank Talks: Quick Chats, Deep History
Included with admission
Activity
Canada and Afghanistan: Operation Medusa
Included with admission
Activity
Battle Rations: From Hardtack to IMPs – Fuelling the Canadian Forces Through the Ages
Included with admission
Saturday afternoon only
War Machines Weekend on the Patio
Saturday and Sunday, 11 am to 4 pm
Experience the rumble of history with a cold drink in hand during War Machines Weekend.
Fuel up for the show with bold eats like the Tankbuster Smash Burger, classic Double Barrel Dogs (two hot dogs and fries), or the hearty Green Machine Vegan Burger, along with cold drinks and local beers.
Great food, live music, and tanks on parade — it all happens here. Grab a seat and stay a while!
Generously supported by the Friends of the Canadian War Museum.
War Machines to go
Check out a Grizzly in the wild! Explore a detailed 3D digital version of this iconic tank. Using your phone’s camera, you can project the Grizzly Mk I into any space and explore it from every angle! Zoom in to see incredible detail.
Explore the Grizzly nowDid you know?
The Museum’s collection features nearly 200 vehicles, including fighting vehicles, tanks and trucks. A significant number are in operational or fully restored condition.
Guided by Museum staff, a dedicated team of skilled volunteers help to restore and repair the vehicles in the collection. This can involve anything from mechanical repairs to full restorations from the ground up, so that they can return to display or operational condition.
Restorations are based on original plans and archival research and use parts from the same time period whenever possible. The War Museum’s restoration shop is one of the few places in Canada that has the depth of expertise to bring military vehicles from a wide variety of eras back to running order.
Many current and former members of the military also volunteer on a regular basis inside the Museum. These “witnesses to history” play a vital role in helping visitors make connections between the history and the human impact of conflict.
Iron Will
Vehicles from the Canadian War Museum
“Iron Will” is a video series that explores the history of vehicles in our military technology collection.
Video
Iron Will – 1914 Armoured Autocar
The armoured cars had about 5mm-thick plate armour, which meant it was only bulletproof to about 100 yards. For the centenary of the First World War, the Museum returned it to operating condition.
Video
Iron Will – The Great Eastern Ramp
This is one of the largest objects currently on display in the LeBreton Gallery. We’re very lucky to have it within the collection because it is the only one in existence.
Video
Iron Will – FWD Truck
The FWD Truck was an important vehicle widely used during the First World War. It took a number of years for us to assemble the truck to the operating condition you see here.
Video
Iron Will – The Tracked Jeep
This is a prototype vehicle that was intended to be used for light reconnaissance. This vehicle was never used in the war. We acquired it from the owner who was using it in movies.
Video
Iron Will – M1917 Six-Ton Tank
The M1917 Six-Ton Tank was used to train Canadian soldiers at the onset of the Second World War.
Video
Iron Will – C15 Armoured Ambulance
There weren't a lot of armoured ambulances in the Second World War. This model was used by the Medical Corps until about 1946, when it was phased out.
