HISTORY OF THE HELLS ANGELS IN CALGARY
Hells Angels from across Canada are coming to Calgary this weekend to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their takeover of the province from the Alberta Grim Reapers. At the time of the takeover in July 1997, the Angels had chapters in Lethbridge, Red Deer, Edmonton and Calgary. In their 20 years in Calgary, they’ve occasionally come into conflict with their neighbours and the law. Postmedia’s Zane Schwartz offers a brief history of the past 20 years of the Hells Angels’ presence in the city.
July 24, 1997: The Calgary Herald reports on the patch-over ceremony in which Alberta Grim Reapers sew on their new patches to signify their membership in the Hells Angels. The headline that day: “Hells Angels welcome new Alberta members with ‘exchange of colours.’
July 24, 1997: Police chief Christine Silverberg had this to say about six newly minted Hells Angels rolling into Calgary: “Our greatest fear, for want of a better word, has come true. We don’t believe this is a good thing for the city or the province, these people are members of a criminal organization.”
April 3, 1998: Utility workers cut the gas and power to the Hells Angels clubhouse on 35th Avenue N.W. after construction workers ignored a stop-work order issued because the Angels never applied for permits.
Feb. 4, 2001: Trial begins in the case of Kenneth Szczerba, 44, accused of plotting to blow up the homes of alderman Dale Hodges and two other people. Hodges was a strong opponent of the Angels’ clubhouse being built. Szczerba is later found guilty.
March 30, 2001: About 200 police raid the Hells Angels’ Ogden clubhouse and 26 other locations, seizing $1 million worth of illegal drugs and weapons and laying charges against 43 individuals, eight of whom were members of the Hells Angels Calgary chapter.
July 23, 2007: Hells Angels celebrate their 10th anniversary without incident.
April 13, 2008: Calgary Hells Angels member Randall Irons acquitted of police assault charge.
June 17, 2013: Altadore residents complain about Hells Angels renting a new clubhouse in their neighbourhood. Police increase presence in the community.
July 20, 2017: Police announce they’re expecting about 500 bikers for the 20th anniversary celebration of the Hells Angels’ first presence in the city.