The Last Gang in Town by Aaron Chapman

The Last Gang in Town by Aaron Chapman

Bill Duthie Booksellers' Choice Prize finalist; Canadian Historical Association's Clio Prize for BC winner

Decades before organized crime syndicates brought sensational drug wars to Vancouver, street gangs held sway over its unruly east side. None was considered tougher or more feared than the Clark Park gang, a wild, two-fisted crew of characters from Vancouver's post-1960s counterculture.

In 1972, after a number of headline-making riots and clashes with police--including an infamous altercation outside a Rolling Stones concert--the Clark Parkers became the target of a secret undercover police squad. Their hostile interactions culminated in a notorious police shooting, resulting in the death of a Clark Park gang member.

Combining meticulous research with a keen flair for storytelling, The Last Gang in Town features previously unpublished photos and police documents, as well as testimonials by surviving gang members and police officers who speak for the first time on the subject. The book is a compelling portrait of early-1970s Vancouver and an intriguing and sensational history that puts the spotlight on the after-dark underbelly of the city's not-so-distant criminal past.

Aaron Chapman is a writer, musician, and the author of Liquor, Lust, and the Law: The Tale of Vancouver's Famous Penthouse Nightclub (Liquor, Lust, and the Law: The Story of Vancouver's Iconic Penthouse Nightclub). He was born and raised in Vancouver and has contributed to a number of local newspapers as well as CBC Radio.