The Downtown Toronto Hells Angels Motorcycle Club on Eastern Avenue will not be returning to the hands of the infamous biker gang.
In late November, the Supreme Court of Canada rejected an appeal by Old Navy Property Corporation, which owns the building, to retain 498 Eastern Ave., just east of Logan Avenue.
Seized by the Crown in April 2007 following a series of mass arrests, the converted and fortified former house was raided in connection with an 18-month-long undercover operation that focused on the organization’s former sergeant-at-arms, David Atwell. Also known as Shakey Dave, Atwell is now in a witness protection program as he had served as a police informant.
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In 2012, the Crown was successful in its application to obtain a forfeiture order for the property.
The Ontario Superior Court of Justice based its decision on the determination that the clubhouse "facilitated the networking and discussions necessary for committing certain trafficking offenses under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act."
Old Navy Property Corporation, which took over ownership of the building from Ontario Corp. 2005631 – also known as Red and White Co. Ltd (representative of the Hells Angels’ colours) – in 2006, lost its bid to the Court of Appeal of this decision.
A social club since 1978, the Para-Dice Riders Motorcycle Club first owned the building until the organization became part of the Hells Angels in late 2000. At one point, the Eastern Avenue clubhouse was home to the largest Hells Angels chapter in Canada.
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