November 2019 – TORONTO, Ont. — Canada has a proud and rich military history.
As Remembrance Day draws near, reflections on the historic achievements of the Canadian military are often connected to key battles in the two World Wars, but the modern era of the Canadian Armed Forces are similarly accomplished, whether in peacekeeping roles around the world or in active combat theatre in the Middle East.
| Some of the machines that have been key to Canada’s military missions throughout the 20thand 21stcenturies will be celebrated at the 2020 Canadian International AutoShow with the return of one of 2019’s most popular displays from the Ontario Regiment Museum. “Our presentation of Second World War-era vehicles was very well received last year,” says Jason Campbell, General Manager of the AutoShow. “These vehicles have been integral to the safety and success of our men and women in uniform. It is an honour to present this all-new impressive mechanized showcase for public viewing at the AutoShow. We should all be grateful for the work done by the Ontario Regiment Museum for keeping these vehicles in working order and helping us remember all those that have sacrificed so much in the defence of our country.” This year’s Military Zone will include: Leopard C2 MBT (Main Battle Tank) — What will undoubtedly be the star of the display will be the Canadian Leopard 1 Battle Tank. This massive and modern tank was built and designed by Porsche in Germany for the Canadian Armed Forces in 1978. Continually upgraded into the 21st Century, the C2 variant was the last Leopard 1 used by Canada, deployed to Afghanistan in 2006 and finally retired by the Forces in 2017. The Leopard 1 MBT is still in active service with 14 NATO nations across the globe.CDN Bombardier Iltis — This is a unique Canadian version of a military jeep used by the Canadian Armed Forces from the 1980s until the 2000s. It was built here in Canada by Bombardier.CDN M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) — The M113 APC has been used by all NATO nations around the globe and has been continuously in service since 1963 — and is still used today! Several uniquely Canadian variants have been used in active service. The APC is a real crowd pleaser because the back ramp can be opened to allow members of the public to get-inside.AVGP Grizzly (LAV) — The “Armoured Vehicle General Purpose” is a Canadian-built military vehicle produced in London, Ont., by General Dynamics Land Systems (GMC). This vehicle was introduced in 1978 and served the Canadian Armed Forces until 2004. But it is the basis of all Canadian Military LAV technology that has spurned an entire generation of vehicles still produced today from the U.S. Striker to the Canadian LAV6.Additional vehicles and features within this special display area located on the 800 level of the South Building will be shared closer to the AutoShow on autoshow.ca and on the CIAS social channels. |
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