The Sumptuous Wedding Reception of Biker René Charlebois: A Public Relations Operation Exposing the Power of the Hells Angels

The sumptuous wedding reception of biker René Charlebois, which captured the imagination of Quebecers in 2000 due to the performance of singer Ginette Reno, also constituted a formidable public relations operation aimed at exposing all the power of the Hells Angels and their leader Maurice “Mom” Boucher.

In this photo seized by the police, we see Hells Angels René “Balloune” Charlebois and his partner during their wedding ceremony at the church of Saint-Joseph-de-Sorel, August 5, 2000. COURTESY Courtoisie

This is not only the opinion of several of our police sources, but it is also the clear impression given by a video obtained by our Investigation Bureau of the best moments of this marriage at the church of Saint-Joseph-de -Sorel and the party that followed in a large marquee erected on Boucher’s property in Contrecœur.

Excerpts from this 90-minute video, most of which are previously unpublished and were only shown to the jurors of the mega-trials of the Hells convicted in Operation Spring 2001, can now be seen on the websites of the Journal and VAT.

The new book from our Bureau of Investigation, entitled Le ripou des Hells, also provides a detailed description of the contents of this recording that the police seized during a search of “Mom” Boucher, one of “Balloune” Charlebois’ groomsmen.

“The Thinker of War”

On August 5, 2000, Charlebois’ wedding day, the Hells Angels were on their way to winning the biker war over control of the drug market, at the end of a bloody six-year conflict that had caused 150 deaths in Quebec, including around twenty innocent victims.

In this photo taken by one of the 300 guests at the wedding of Hells René Charlebois and seized by the police, we see Charlebois in the center with his three groomsmen on his left, namely the Nomads Michel Rose, Normand Robitaille and the chef of the biker gang, Maurice “Mom” Boucher, in front of the Saint-Joseph-de-Sorel church, August 5, 2000. COURTESY Courtesy

“It was a war of business and territory. Mom, he was the thinker of the biker wars. Everyone was going to report to Mom,” ex-Hells Sylvain Boulanger, who became an informer of the SharQc operation and one of the police collaborators that ex-star investigator Benoît Roberge offered to “sell” told the police. » to René Charlebois between 2012 and 2013.

Scene from the wedding reception of Hells Angels René Charlebois and his partner, August 5, 2000, in a photo seized by the police the following year. COURTESY Courtesy

Boucher had not only triumphed over the Rock Machine. After a highly publicized first trial, the leader of the Hells was also acquitted, in November 1998, of having ordered the heinous murders of two correctional officers.

In this photo seized by the police, we see Hells René Charlebois crouching and his partner, just behind him, as well as the three bridesmaids dressed in elegant white dresses, including Diane Leblanc (on the left and wearing glasses) , the spouse of the leader of the Hells, Maurice “Mom” Boucher. COURTESY Courtesy

“A very special birthday…”

In addition, for “Mom”, August 5, 2000 marked her own couple’s anniversary.

“This evening also represents a very special anniversary for the hosts of the reception. I would like to tell you that this evening, Diane and Maurice, 29 years ago, they met. So, I would like to dedicate the next song to them,” announced Ginette Reno on the stage set up under the big top. She then intoned The Hymn to Love in honor of the couple, before singing for the bride and groom.

The great Ginette Reno, photographed by one of the guests at the Hells wedding reception René Charlebois and his partner, performing to the bride and groom the song “My Way”, by Frank Sinatra, on August 5, 2000. Courtesy

The host of the party, whom the host of the evening called “Monsieur Maurice”, had also invited the journalist Claude Poirier to report the news first in the weekly Hello Police.

Fleeting glory

Ironically, Charlebois and Boucher were not able to enjoy their moment of glory for long.

Two months after toasting the newlyweds, Boucher was arrested again and imprisoned when the Court of Appeal overturned his acquittal by ordering a second trial, which led to his life sentence.

In this photo seized by the police from a member of the Hells, we see the leader of the biker gang, Maurice “Mom” Boucher, in the foreground, posing in the square in front of the church of Saint-Joseph-de- Sorel just after the wedding of a member of the Nomads chapter, René Charlebois, of which Boucher was also one of the groomsmen, on August 5, 2000. COURTESY Courtoisie

He died of throat cancer in the summer of 2022 while incarcerated.

For his part, Charlebois headed to jail seven months after his marriage, when he was caught in the Spring 2001 operation.

Hells Angels René Charlebois received a gift of a new Harley Davidson motorcycle from his comrades from the Nomads chapter on his wedding night, August 5, 2000. This photo was taken by one of the 300 guests at the reception, which took place in a marquee erected on the property of Hells leader Maurice “Mom” Boucher, and was subsequently seized by police during Operation Spring 2001. COURTESY Courtesy

“You had the biggest wedding ever in Quebec. In my opinion, you exceed [celui de] Celine Dion ! […] That’s big, René. It’s big and it flashes. When you want to flash too much, what do the population think of that? Have you thought about it? » asked investigator François Roux during his interrogation, without Charlebois deigning to answer him.

Do you have any information to share with us about this story?

Write to us at or call us directly at 1 800-63SCOOP.