Crews were on scene Wednesday, Nov. 15 to begin demolishing the Hells Angels clubhouse on Victoria Rd. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

torn down

VIDEO: Hells Angels Nanaimo clubhouse being demolished after provincial acquisition

Nov 15, 2023 | 10:21 AM

NANAIMO — The local Hells Angels clubhouse is soon to be no more.

Crews were on site at 805 Victoria Rd. on Wednesday, Nov. 15 demolishing the building which had housed the Nanaimo chapter of the group, which formed in 1983.

It ends a prolonged flip-flopping battle between the provincial government and the group over control of the property with the B.C. Civil Forfeiture Office winning a B.C. Court of Appeal decision in February 2023, which cited the fact the clubhouse in Nanaimo was used for criminal activity.

“This important result today is a testament to the hard work of everyone involved, from the brave undercover and anti-gang officers and the police agencies who referred their case files to the Civil Forfeiture Office and tirelessly contributed their expertise and support to see this case through to its conclusion.,” Mike Farnworth, public safety minister, said in a statement.

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Other properties included in the February ruling were Hells Angels clubhouses in Kelowna and Vancouver.

Three Court of Appeal justices said at the time evidence clearly showed unlawful activities were taking place at all three locations.

Their decision overruled a 2020 decision which was deemed tainted because of the justice’s refusal to admit evidence from previous criminal cases against individual Hells Angels members.

“Everyone deserves to feel safe in their communities and the forfeiture of these properties is a significant step forward in putting organized crime on notice in British Columbia,” Farnworth added. “We will continue to undermine every effort that criminals make in B.C. to profit from their criminal activities.”

Brittany Hall was walking by the clubhouse in advance of crews demolishing the building.

She said while it’s sad to see the artwork and a well-known landmark go, there is a chance for it to be a hugely positive step forward for the neighbourhood.

“It depends what gets put up (in place) of this building, that’s truly is what’s going to make the difference and change Nanaimo for the better. There’s always negativity around the positivity, it’s how we build it up from here.”

It is expected the province will ultimately sell the property, which was last assessed at $282,500.

The Nanaimo Hells Angels clubhouse was out of the organization’s control between 2007 and 2020 when the building was first seized under the forfeiture act.

RCMP were on scene as a precautionary security measure while demolition crews got ready. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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