The Peaks Lodge parking lot hosted a biker rally on the afternoon of Saturday, Sept. 11 as bikers from across B.C. rallied in Revelstoke. In the background, Revelstoke’s Smokey Bear statue presided over the rally with its usual vigilant stare, joined by members of an anti-gang RCMP squad, who also watched over the event.
The hotel, located just west of Revelstoke on the Trans-Canada Highway, was the rallying point.
The event, called Revel-stoked Rager, was billed as a ride from Langley to a rally in Revelstoke. The Facebook event listing welcomed all to attend. It promised a party, poker run, show and shine, stunt show, and wet T-shirt competition.
The rally drew attention from the RCMP’s Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia’s (CFSEU-BC’s) Uniform Gang Enforcement Team, who issued a media release on Sept. 9, saying members would be monitoring the event.
In a statement, the CFSEU-BC said that, “events, such as the one scheduled for Revelstoke this weekend, can attract members of Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMG’s). Members of OMG’s are often connected to street gangs, drug dealing, and significant violence.”
They drew attention to a violent altercation between biker gang members in July in Cranbook, where five people were sent to the hospital after a large fight involving knives.
Video: Watch a quick mashup of the stunt show at the Sept. 11 rally:
@revelstokemountaineer Scenes from a Sept. 11, 2021 biker rally in Revelstoke that drew a presence from a B.C. RCMP anti-gang unit. See the story @ revelstokemountaineer.com
♬ Idling Motorcycle Sound – Tmsoft’s White Noise Sleep Sounds
Members of the Revelstoke RCMP detachment joined up with the provincial gang unit to patrol the event.
“One of the core aspects of CFSEU-BC’s enforcement strategy are the Uniform Gang Enforcement Teams (UGET) who represent the overt, tactical and specialized uniform presence of CFSEU-BC and ensures public safety in communities around the province,” said Sergeant Brenda Winpenny, CFSEU-BC Media Relations Officer. “Being able to provide support to the Revelstoke RCMP this coming weekend will not only assist members there, but will also enhance public safety.”
Read the CFSEU-BC statement here:
CFSEU-BC Uniform Gang Enforcement Team travels to Revelstoke to assist with Biker Event
Saturday’s featured a poker run, motorcycle stunts and burnouts in the parking lot, and vintage cars on display.
When we dropped by on Saturday afternoon, there were well over 100 people in the hotel parking lot, some of them wearing biker club insignia. Hells Angels Nanaimo had a stand selling clothing, as did a Hells Angels Kelowna support group. There were many in Hells Angels insignia, including full-patch members and prospects. A large contingent of Horsemen Brotherhood members were on hand as well as members from the Jesters. There were a smattering of other biker club vests, but most in attendance were without motorcycle club insignia.
There were a number of Revelstoke residents in attendance, but the majority of the people seemed to be from out of town.
While we were there, The Vanishing Ones, a motorcycle clothing and lifestyle brand, were doing stunts in the parking lot such as burnouts and wheelies.
At one point, there was an accident on the highway below the venue involving two motorcycles. We didn’t witness it, but when the dust settled, two bikes were damaged and in the ditch, with one rider getting up soon after, but the other, who had been thrown from his bike and landed on the other side of Weird Woods Frontage Road, was hurt. It took him several minutes before he got off the ground. An ambulance and fire truck attended the crash, as did police who were on hand.
Out on the highway, the police could be seen making stops in the area, pulling over a couple of bikers east of the venue near town.
Just off the property, CFSEU-BC members and local police stood by their vehicles, monitoring the event, and assisted at the scene of the motorcycle collision.
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