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This tank arsenal near Oshawa is a secret the military museum wants shared

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It is the coldest day of the year so far, and I am doing my best General Patton imitation as I stand on the commander’s chair of a tank, popping my head out of the turret as we patrol the frigid tundra of Oshawa.

Despite my best attempt at faking it as a “tough guy in the army,” it is clear I am a lot closer to Mash’s Radar O’Reilly than Rambo, as my hands feel frostbite setting in while I excitedly try to record a smartphone video on my ride in a Leopard 1A5 tank at the Ontario Regiment RCAC Museum.

Star reporter Raju Mudhar rides along on a tank at the Ontario Regiment RCAC Museum in Oshawa on Dec. 7. The museum has the largest collection of operational vehicles in North America.
Star reporter Raju Mudhar rides along on a tank at the Ontario Regiment RCAC Museum in Oshawa on Dec. 7. The museum has the largest collection of operational vehicles in North America.  (Andrew Francis Wallace / Toronto Star)

I thought a childhood obsessed with G.I. Joe, countless hours playing shooter games on various video game consoles and an excellent knowledge of Hollywood action movies would prepare me for what would be a quick joy ride in an actual tank. I was dead wrong. It was way better than I could have imagined and an absolutely awesome thrill ride.

Jokingly described as “the best kept military secret in southwestern Ontario,” the Ontario Regiment RCAC Museum is also known colloquially as the “Tank Museum,” as it has the largest collection of operational historical military vehicles in North America, including two M4 Shermans, American M60s, the Soviet BMP1, German-built Leopard — which was designed by Porsche — and many more.

The museum hosts and organizes “Tank Weekends” and offers other experiences that let people take a spin in this behemoths.

Not far from the Oshawa Executive Airport, the museum has a small building with historical displays, replicas and information. It is when you walk out into the large warehouse space, called the Military Vehicle Conservation Centre, where it is really breathtaking as there are so many vehicles sandwiched in together, with so many tanks, armoured personnel carriers, vintage motorcycles and other vehicles.

“We have over 80 vehicles that are operational, and probably about 20 or 30 that are prime candidates to be restored,” says Matt Rutledge, operations manager, “We’ve got Canadian vehicles, British, Soviet, German and more.”

It’s not just tanks, as Rutledge points to a Chevrolet Radio van from the Second World War. “That was built in Oshawa by General Motors. Serial number 001, so it was the first one off the line of that particular vehicles type. This area really tells the story of World War II, which includes the local Oshawa General Motors story, but also of the British Commonwealth in general.”

Rutledge is one of two full-time employees at the museum, but there are more than 140 volunteers who help repair and maintain the vehicles. Although keeping them running is no easy task. The majority of the tanks work on diesel, and while most do not run in the winter, as salt and the elements cause more wear and tear — the museum is much more active in the spring and summer — they all have to be turned on and made sure they are functioning.

“Listen, it is fun to drive these things, although it’s not easy,” says Rich Bennett, who is in charge of maintenance of the vehicles at the museum. “But the real reason I do this is because you are literally working on a pieces of living history.”

In terms of finding parts, it is an accredited Canadian Armed Forces Museum, so they can get CAF parts from the service, but it’s not so simple for international vehicles.

“There lots of parts in Europe, because obviously lots of stuff was shipped during the war,” Bennett says. “But if we can’t find a part, we mill it or make it. We’ve got a whole machine shop in the back, with lathes, mills, presses and all that stuff, so we take a piece of metal and recreate it.”

Bennett is my chauffeur today, and leads me through the process of climbing up and getting into the Leopard. He says when it gets moving it will sort of feel like being on a boat, as I will sway side to side, and the tank’s treads mean I will feel just about every piece of terrain. Half my body pokes out the top of the tank, as I am standing on the commander’s chair for most of the ride, surveying the horizon as the tanks motors along.

Later on, Bennett takes me through the tank innards, explaining the positions of the crew, and while he jokes he’s over six feet tall, and this tank is one he finds roomy, it still feels cramped and claustrophobic. If you need another reminder of how useless a tank crew member I’d be, and how small the space is, while climbing in I almost sprained my ankle while getting caught on some wires. Then I had a back spasm while I was just sitting in the commander’s chair as Bennett explained how the crew would load ammunition.

Despite that, I was giddy during the entire ride and tank tour.

While tanks are definitely not known for their use in espionage, it is surprising just how under the radar this institution is. Rutledge says military-philes and fans are fully aware of it, as are tank enthusiasts who play the online game World of Tanks, as every year that game holds contests and tournaments with prizes including being able to have a ride and operate the main turret. As well, if there has been a TV show or movie shot in Ontario and Eastern Canada that needs a tank, it has come from this museum and is either shot here or loaded up and sent to the set. On the day we visit, scenes for a CBC web series called Mindfudge are set to be shot.

“People don’t know it’s here. It is really Durham region’s hidden gem. We’re working to get the promotion out there in the local media, but 70 per cent of our visitors are from outside the Toronto area,” explains Rutledge.

“For example, for one of the big weekends, we had people fly in from Croatia, Australia, Italy, South Africa. They are tank enthusiasts, so they look to travel to the meccas for these vehicles.”

It’s worth it just to go and check out the vehicles, but if you want a ride the museum hosts tank weekends throughout the year, with the next one taking place Feb. 9, where they offer $20 rides in the M548 “Battle Bus” and $50 rides in the M113 Tracked Armoured Personal Carrier.

The biggest weekend of the year is going to be held on June 8-9, called the Aquino Tank Weekend, which is considered Canada’s largest military show of the year. It is named for a battle in the Second World War where 13 Canadian tanks were lost, but none of their crews died. This weekend brings in thousands of people from all over the world, and there are several staged military battles.

There are also several tank packages that start at $350 per person, and customizable four-person VIP Tank Day packages that start at $1,000, where you may be allowed to even squeeze off a blank round.

Visit ontrmuseum.ca for more information.

Raju Mudhar is a Toronto-based reporter covering popular culture at the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @rajumudhar

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Anglais

Nostalgia and much more with Starburst XXXtreme

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Get a taste of adventure with Starburst XXXtreme based on the legendary NetEnt Game. The nostalgic themes are sure to capture fans of the classic version as they get treated to higher intensity, better visuals, and features. The most significant element of the game is its volatility. Patience will not be an essential virtue considering the insane gameplay, and there is a lot of win potential involved. It retains the original makeup of the previous game while adding a healthy dose of adrenaline. 

Starburst Visuals and Symbols

The game is definitely more conspicuous than before. The setting happens over a 5-reel, 3-row game grid with nine fixed win lines, which function if a succession from the left to the right reel is present. Only those players that that attain the highest win per bet line are paid. From a visual standpoint, the Starburst XXXtreme slots illustrates lightning effects behind the reels, which is not surprising as it is inherited from the original version. Available themes include Classic, Jewels, and Space. The game is also available in both desktop and mobile versions, which is advantageous for players considering the global pandemic. According to Techguide, American gamers are increasingly having more engaging gaming experiences to socialize to fill the gap of in-person interaction. Starburst XXXtreme allows them to fill the social void at a time when there is so much time to be had indoors. 

Starburst XXXTreme Features

Players get to alternate on three features which are Starburst Wilds, XXXtreme Spins, and Random Wilds. The first appears on reels 2,3, or 4. When these land, they expand to cover all positions while also calculating the wins. They are also locked for a respin. If a new one hits, it also becomes locked while awarding another respin. Starburst XXXtreme offers a choice between two scenarios for a higher stake. In one scenario with a ten times stake, the Starburst Wild is set on random on reels 2,3, or 4, and a multiplier starts the respin. The second scenario, which has a 95 times stake, starts with two guaranteed starburst wilds on reels 2,3, or 4. it also plays out using respin game sequence and features. The game also increases the potential with the Random Wilds feature to add Starburst Wilds to a vacant reel at the end of a spin. Every Starburst Wild gives a random multiplier with potential wins of x2, x3, x5, x10, x25, x50, x100, or even x150.

The new feature is sure to be a big hit with the gaming market as online gambling has shown significant growth during the lockdown. AdAge indicates the current casino customer base is an estimated one in five Americans, so Starburst XXXtreme’s additional features will achieve considerable popularity. 

What We Think About The Game

The gambling market has continued to diversify post-pandemic, so it is one of the most opportune times to release an online casino-based game. Thankfully Starburst XXXtreme features eye-catching visuals, including the jewels and space themes. These attract audience participation and make the gameplay inviting. The game also has a nostalgic edge. The previous NetEnt iteration featured similar visuals and gameplay, so the audience has some familiarity with it. The producers have revamped this version by tweaking the features to improve the volatility and engagement. 

That is characterized by the potential win cap of 200,000 times the bet. Starburst XXXtreme does not just give betting alternatives for players that want to go big. The increase of multipliers also provides a great experience. If the respins in the previous version were great, knowing that multipliers can go hundreds of times overtakes the game to a new level. 

Players should get excited about this offering. All of the features can be triggered within a single spin. Whether one plays the standard game or takes the XXXtreme spin route, it is possible to activate all of the features. Of course, the potential 200,000 times potential is a huge carrot. However, the bet size is probably going to be restricted and vary depending on the casino. It is also worth pointing out that a malfunction during the gameplay will void all of the payouts and progress. Overall, the game itself has been designed to provide a capped win of 200,000 times the original bet. 

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Anglais

‘We’re back’: Montreal festival promoters happy to return but looking to next year

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In downtown Montreal, it’s festival season.

In the city’s entertainment district, a musical act was conducting a sound check on stage Friday evening — the second day of the French-language version of the renowned Just For Laughs comedy festival. Tickets for many of the festival’s free outdoor shows — limited by COVID-19 regulations — were sold out.

Two blocks away, more than 100 people were watching an acoustic performance by the Isaac Neto Trio — part of the last weekend of the Festival International Nuits d’Afrique, a celebration of music from the African continent and the African diaspora.

With COVID-19 restrictions continuing to limit capacity, festival organizers say they’re glad to be back but looking forward to next year when they hope border restrictions and capacity limits won’t affect their plans.

Charles Décarie, Just For Laughs’ CEO and president, said this is a “transition year.”

“Even though we have major constraints from the public health group in Montreal, we’ve managed to design a festival that can navigate through those constraints,” Décarie said.

The French-language Juste pour rire festival began on July 15 and is followed by the English-language festival until July 31.

When planning began in February and March, Décarie said, organizers came up with a variety of scenarios for different crowd sizes, ranging from no spectators to 50 per cent of usual capacity.

“You’ve got to build scenarios,” he said. “You do have to plan a little bit more than usual because you have to have alternatives.”

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Anglais

MELS new major movie studio to be built in Montreal

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MONTREAL — MELS Studios will build a new film studio in Montreal, filling some of the gap in supply to meet the demand of Hollywood productions.

MELS president Martin Carrier said on Friday that MELS 4 studio construction will begin « as soon as possible », either in the fall or winter of next year. The studio could host productions as early as spring 2023.

The total investment for the project is $76 million, with the Quebec government contributing a $25 million loan. The project will create 110 jobs, according to the company.

The TVA Group subsidiary’s project will enable it to stand out « even more » internationally, according to Quebecor president and CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau. In the past, MELS Studios has hosted several major productions, including chapters of the X-Men franchise. The next Transformers movie is shooting this summer in Montreal.

Péladeau insisted that local cultural productions would also benefit from the new facility, adding that the studio ensures foreign revenues and to showcase talent and maintain an industry of Quebec producers.

STUDIO SHORTAGE

The film industry is cramped in Montreal.

According to a report published last May by the Bureau du cinéma et de la télévision du Québec (BCTQ), there is a shortage of nearly 400,000 square feet of studio space.

With the addition of MELS 4, which will be 160,000 square feet, the company is filling part of the gap.

Carrier admitted that he has had to turn down contracts because of the lack of space, representing missed opportunities of « tens of millions of dollars, not only for MELS, but also for the Quebec economy. »

« Montreal’s expertise is in high demand, » said Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante, who was present at the announcement.

She said she received great testimonials from « Netflix, Disney, HBO and company » during an economic mission to Los Angeles in 2019.

« What stands out is that they love Montreal because of its expertise, knowledge and beauty. We need more space, like MELS 4, » she said.

There is still not enough capacity in Quebec, acknowledged Minister of Finance, the Economy and Innovation Eric Girard.

« It is certain that the government is concerned about fairness and balance, so if other requests come in, we will study them with the same seriousness as we have studied this one, » he said.

Grandé Studios is the second-largest player in the industry. Last May, the company said it had expansion plans that should begin in 2022. Investissement Québec and Bell are minority shareholders in the company.

For its part, MELS will have 400,000 square feet of production space once MELS 4 is completed. The company employs 450 people in Quebec and offers a range of services including studio and equipment rentals, image and sound postproduction, visual effects and a virtual production platform.

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