outlaw biker gangs from canada and u.s. descend on windsor for hells angels party
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bikers are shown at the entrance to the hells angels clubhouse in amherstburg on friday, july 17, 2026.
dan janisse
for roughly 800 outlaw bikers rolling into windsor over the weekend, this party is a must.
“if you’re a member, your clubhouse has to be represented from wherever you are,” said windsor police chief jason crowley. “it’s a mandatory run for them. they’ll be coming from all over canada, likely some from the states.”
the windsor police service issued an alert on monday that hundreds of outlaw bikers would be in windsor-essex from july 16 to 19. windsor officers are monitoring the gang members this weekend in a joint-forces operation with the opp-led biker enforcement unit.
a large contingent of outlaw bikers gathered at the hells angels howard avenue clubhouse in amherstburg friday morning.
large flags emblazoned with “hells angels windsor city” flapped in the wind at the mouth of the driveway.
multiple bikers wearing club colours, including those for gangs including the hells angels and red devils out of east toronto, were posted at the side of the road. several more people sat on the front porch of a house at the front property. some of them also had their faces covered. none of them would talk to the star.
the club members are in town for an annual party, sometimes referred to as the canada run, which changes locations every year. last year, it was in calgary. wherever it’s held, the party is mandatory.
“it’s a celebration of their club,” said crowley.
bikers are shown at the entrance to the hells angels clubhouse in amherstburg on friday, july 17, 2026.
dan janisse
the wave of bikers started arriving in windsor-essex on thursday. police expect around 750 or 800 bikers to descend on the region, including hells angels members along with their affiliate and puppet clubs.
“people are going to see large groups of them running together in full colours,” said crowley. “we’ll see them in restaurants, bars, strip clubs.”
despite the large presence of gang members, crowley said the general public has nothing to worry about.
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“they’re not looking for trouble,” he said. “they want to keep under the radar. but we’re well aware of what’s going on and we’re prepared for anything.”
most of the festivities will take place at the hells angels clubhouse in 7800 block of howard avenue in amherstburg.
crowley said they are among three main biker gangs with a permanent presence in the windsor area, along with satan’s choice and the queensmen. but it’s unclear who has a ticket to the hells angels party.
“satan’s choice have some presence here now,” said crowley. “they don’t historically get along.”
“but for this this kind of get together, they may have kind of said, ‘hey, we’ll just leave each other be for this.'”
the queensmen once had a clubhouse on drouillard road. crowley said they are now based in amherstburg where they keep a low profile.
“they’re around still and they’re a little more active in their recruiting, because they were more of an older club for a long time,” said crowley. “they have some younger members now.”
but the hells angels have the biggest presence in essex county.
they have hosted many large gatherings at the local clubhouse, including their annual party in 2010. they also had a big bash in 2011 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their official arrival in ontario.
in 2006, an estimated 500 bikers gathered in windsor for the fifth anniversary with a party that included fireworks and an ac/dc cover band.
they held labour day weekend barbecues here in 2008 and 2009.
bikers also travelled from across ontario in 2003 for the official christening of the gang’s new amherstburg club house in the 7800 block of howard avenue. that property, which has a collection of buildings including a house, is still their local headquarters.
they took possession of it in may 2003 after pulling up stakes from their windsor compound near provincial road and sixth concession.
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in march 2003, anticipating the club’s move to howard avenue, amherstburg council rushed through an anti-fortification bylaw. it banned security measures such as armoured doors, bulletproof windows, electrified fences and sandbags piled against walls to protect against explosions.
the hells angels, with clubs in dozens of countries and thousands of members, is the biggest outlaw motorcycle gang in the world.
it was founded in 1948 in california, billing itself as a club for “motorcycle enthusiasts.” it’s a claim the members keep to this day.
but numerous police and intelligence agencies, including the supreme court of canada and criminal intelligence service canada (cisc), classify the club as a criminal organization.
multiple hells angels members in canada and elsewhere have been charged or convicted of an array of crimes including drug trafficking, assault and murder.
“this is organized crime,” said crowley. “we have very high intelligence on them and we keep tabs on them. there’s nothing to worry about. these people will keep to themselves, particularly if you leave them alone. they’re not looking for trouble here. but there is no doubt that they’re in business. pretty much anything that makes money, they’re involved with.”
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