Ontario City Police Prepare for Outlaw Biker Gang’s Arrival

While many Ontario residents are familiar with the stories of biker gatherings in Port Dover on Friday the 13th, few may know that a biker gang also meets in another small Ontario town on the same day.

For the past six years, members of The Outlaws, one of the oldest motorcycle clubs in the world, have gathered in Gananoque on Friday the 13th. Police and local authorities have warned the public to expect the same on Friday.

“We have become a meeting place for the Outlaws Motorcycle Club on Friday the 13th,” Gananoque Mayor John Beddow told Global News.

He says that as long as the notorious gang does not cause any nuisance, they are welcome in the township.

“We live in a country where we have the right to travel freely, where we have the freedom of association and where all people who respect the law and behave lawfully can enjoy those rights and freedoms,” he said.

Local police and OPP have released a statement warning of the cyclists’ arrival in their community.

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Gananoque Police Prepare for Visit from Outlaw Bikers

“Rule-operated motorcycle gangs are among the criminal organizations whose wide range of criminal activities can cause harm and victimization in communities across Ontario,” the statement said.

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“The Gananoque Police Department reminds citizens that these events have occurred over the past several years with minimal disruption and that they should contact police if they require police assistance.”

The last Friday the 13th was in October last year, when over 50,000 people gathered in Port Dover.

An OPP spokesperson told Global News that many more people are expected to attend due to sunny skies expected on Friday.

A much smaller gathering of about 150 people is expected in Gananoque, though a police official said they are likely all connected to the biker gang.

Police officers say they have called in nearby agencies for help in case any problems arise on Friday.

“We have assistance from many outside agencies to ensure we have a large police presence for the event,” Sgt. Mike Driscoll said in an email.

The tourist town of just over 5,000 people is about a 40-minute drive from Kingston via the highway. However, the bikers do not have a clubhouse in the town, so it is still unclear why they gathered there in 2018.

“I think this could be an interesting byproduct of our efforts to attract more and more diverse organizations to Gananoque,” ​​Beddow said. “Be careful what you wish for, it could happen.”

Some people in Gananoque, like the folks at Moroni’s Restaurant And Sports Bar, see the positive side of the influx of people to their town.

“The girls tell me they don’t care at all, they tip well, are very polite and they are always happy to see them,” said owner Nikolaos Giannakouras.

Things will be back to normal in both Ontario communities on Saturday, but it won’t be long before the bikers return, as the next Friday the 13th is in December.

*With files from Fawwaz Muhammad-Yusuf

© 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.