Biker bash set for Burnside this weekend

OFF THE WIRE
By DAN ARSENAULT Crime Reporter
Tue, Jul 27 - 4:55 PM

A Dartmouth-area hotel will become biker central this weekend when the Maritime Biker Federation holds its annual summertime get together.

The now-defunct Halifax Hells Angels chapter created the federation in 2000 and made the gatherings mandatory for members, who are members of their affiliated motorcycle clubs: the Charlottetown Harley Club, the Highlanders from the Antigonish region and Bacchus. Bacchus has several clubs in New Brunswick and a new club in Halifax, which was created out of the old East Coast Riders.

Halifax Bacchus is hosting this year’s event for the federation, and most of the activity will be centred around the Burnside Hotel.

“It’s a private federation and this will be a private party,” said RCMP Const. Stephen MacQueen, who investigates outlaw biker gangs for the provincial intelligence unit.

“It’s simply an event where they get together and party.”

MacQueen said attendance is mandatory for members of the biker’s federation.

He said other motorcycle clubs will send members. There will be Vagabonds, Para-Dice Riders and Red Devils from Ontario, plus a number of Hells Angels from various chapters in central Canada.

“One of the reasons for their event is to show their colours,” MacQueen said.

Police expect up to 120 bikers at the event, which will likely include a barbecue, a group ride (or run) and some partying.

MacQueen said these events usually don’t generate much trouble, although there are sometimes violations of the Motor Vehicle Act.

“We’ve been in touch with them already to lay down kind of the ground rules, how we’re not going to tolerate any offences,” he said. “If there are any problems we’ll have manpower on to deal with them.”

A manager at the Burnside Hotel, who didn’t want to give his name, said they don’t intend to alter their security of make any other changes because of this week’s guests.

(darsenault@herald.ca)