Hundreds of Hells Angels biker gang members are set to arrive in Ottawa this weekend for what is expected to be the organization’s largest gathering in Canadian history.

More than 700 Hells Angels and affiliate members are expected to party in Ottawa all weekend long, in celebration of the 15th anniversary of their Ontario chapter. Every four years, they hold a mandatory-attendance meeting, and this year Ottawa won the bid to host.

The convention is set to take place in the community of Carlsbad Springs, in the rural southeast edge of Ottawa.

Residents can expect large convoys of bikers moving throughout Ottawa, as members visit restaurants and bars and stay in hotels.

Sources have told CTV Ottawa the Hells Angels even plan to take a family photo on Parliament Hill.

The Hells Angels are known for following their own rule of law, which is why police are issuing a warning.

“We’re telling the public to limit their contact with these people,” Det. Staff Sgt. Len Isnor told reporters on Wednesday. “They are organized crime.”

Police provided vague details about how they plan to monitor the event, but said they are beefing up their presence over the weekend.

However, police don’t expect there will be any trouble, as Hells Angels members are typically told by their own leader to behave during events such as this one. Police are, however, asking the public, bar owners and restaurateurs to contact them if they see any sort of criminal activity.

Growing presence

Police said the gathering is a “good opportunity” for the group to get together and communicate.

“They know that (police) try to intercept their private communications and what better way of communicating (than) by face to face,” Isnor said.

“The power of that Hells Angels patch is a big part of who they are.”

But it’s also a chance for police to update their own files on the organization.

After years of run-ins with the law, police say the Hells Angels presence is growing.

“They’re starting to come out of jail and there’s never been a time over the past six, seven years that there’s been more back on the streets,” Isnor said.

With a report by CTV Ottawa’s Catherine Lathem