The largest historical military show in North America drew thousands of visitors from around the world to Oshawa over the weekend as the annual Aquino Tank Weekend transformed the Canadian Tank Museum into a living history experience.
Held on Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14, 2026, at the Canadian Tank Museum, located at the home of the Ontario Regiment Museum on Stevenson Road, the event showcased one of the world’s most extensive collections of operational military vehicles.
The museum is internationally recognized for its collection of more than 180 historical military vehicles, many of which remain fully operational.
Throughout the weekend, visitors witnessed dramatic battle reenactments featuring tanks, artillery, infantry and military vehicles. Narrated scenarios brought history to life as explosions and blank gunfire recreated scenes from past conflicts.
In addition to the battlefield demonstrations, guests explored exhibits from Canadian Armed Forces units, military museums from across Ontario, historical reenactors, remote-control battle tank displays and numerous interactive exhibits.
Among the hundreds of volunteers helping make the event possible was Brighton resident Jeff Darrington, who has volunteered at the museum for the past eight years.
Darrington’s involvement began while researching his grandfather’s military service as a crew member on a Sherman tank.
“It’s been a really, really great experience,” said Darrington.
The not-for-profit Canadian Tank Museum relies heavily on its volunteer base, with more than 200 volunteers supporting just four full-time staff members.
Throughout the weekend, volunteers could be found throughout the grounds answering questions, guiding visitors and helping operate displays.
Darrington said the museum’s mission is simple.
“Keeping history alive.”
“Keeping these vehicles running is very difficult. We have a lot of people in our museum that have a ton of mechanical experience and are heavy mechanics.”
“Sometimes we can’t get parts, so we have a milling shop right here where the guys will manufacture parts right here.”
While many visitors return year after year for Aquino, Darrington said the event continues to attract newcomers as awareness of the museum grows.
One of those returning visitors was British Army veteran Shawn Bannister, who travelled from the United Kingdom to attend the event.
Bannister served 34 years in the British Army and took part in Operation Desert Storm during the Persian Gulf War. He was one of several British veterans who made the trip across the Atlantic for the annual event.
The museum owns an anti-tank guided weapon vehicle that Bannister once served in and lived in for six months during the Gulf War.
Several years ago, Canadian Tank Museum President Alan Duffy contacted Bannister through Facebook after discovering photographs believed to show Bannister and his crew with the vehicle.
“I thought it was kind of strange,” Bannister recalled. “But went through some checks with him and showed him the photographs I had and he was over the moon.”
Once it was confirmed that the vehicle was the same one Bannister had operated during the war, Duffy invited him to Canada.
“I said, I’m afraid I’m not a rich man, and he said, ‘No, I’m paying,’ and he has done ever since.”
Approximately 16 veterans travel to Canada each year to participate in Aquino.
Bannister fondly remembers his first visit.
“We got up in the morning and got our uniforms on and waited to be picked up and Alan rolls up with a couple of tanks and a police escort.”
For Bannister, the annual trip is about reconnecting with former comrades and ensuring military history is remembered.
“It’s important not to forget history,” he said.
“The last person to glorify war is a soldier. We’re the guys that have to go out and do it.”
“But sometimes it’s a necessary evil as it was in the Gulf War. And what was particularly effective in the Gulf War is that it was a very black and white issue. They were the bad guys, we were the good guys. They invaded a completely innocent country and we needed to get them out.”
Bannister said the unit he served with advanced all the way to Kuwait City during the conflict.
As tanks rolled across the battlefield and veterans shared their stories, Aquino once again demonstrated why it has become one of the most respected military history events in the world—bringing together veterans, volunteers, collectors and visitors to preserve and share the lessons of the past.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
