Categories: Canada

The Most Dangerous Cities in Canada: Overall crime score—by population

2009 Maclean’s National Crime Rankings

by macleans.ca on Wednesday, March 4, 2009 1:04pm - 23 Comments

2007
Area	Population	Overall crime score as a percentage difference from the national rate	Rank
TORONTO	2,651,717	11.66%	29
MONTREAL	1,871,846	23.15%	24
PEEL REGION, ONT.	1,222,639	-40.68%	70
CALGARY	1,038,481	17.12%	27
YORK REGION, ONT.	975,501	-75.25%	94
OTTAWA	846,169	-28.68%	56
EDMONTON	763,732	110.36%	5
WINNIPEG	653,733	152.98%	2
VANCOUVER	609,785	71.50%	8
DURHAM REGION, ONT.	595,354	-23.98%	47
QUEBEC CITY	535,321	-40.35%	69
HAMILTON	519,741	18.11%	26
WATERLOO REGION, ONT.	496,370	-39.75%	68
HALTON REGION, ONT.	468,980	-79.33%	96
NIAGARA REGION, ONT.	433,946	-29.58%	58
SURREY, B.C.	425,428	70.08%	9
LONGUEUIL, QUE.	395,168	-16.67%	41
LAVAL, QUE.	381,651	-22.21%	45
LONDON, ONT.	362,561	-11.48%	37
GATINEAU-MÉTRO, QUE.	251,274	-14.81%	40
BURNABY, B.C.	221,856	43.11%	16
WINDSOR, ONT.	220,569	-9.40%	35
HALIFAX	215,830	73.58%	7
SASKATOON	206,365	163.23%	1
RICHMOND, B.C.	193,164	-37.91%	65
REGINA	183,540	135.74%	3
ST. JOHN’S	182,605	-22.47%	46
RICHELIEU SAINT-LAURENT, QUE.	180,520	-56.33%	77
HALIFAX COUNTY, , N.S.	169,627	-63.96%	84
SUDBURY, ONT.	162,438	-3.27%	33
SHERBROOKE, QUE.	149,875	-34.23%	62
SAGUENAY, QUE.	144,924	-28.97%	57
BARRIE, ONT.	139,298	-28.31%	54
ABBOTSFORD, B.C.	135,253	27.25%	22
LÉVIS, QUE.	133,470	-80.93%	98
COQUITLAM, B.C.	133,218	-25.20%	48
TROIS-RIVIÈRES, QUE.	127,190	-19.12%	42
MRC VAUDREUIL-SOUL.	126,383	-65.18%	85
TERREBONNE, QUE.	121,845	-25.33%	49
GUELPH, ONT.	120,254	-52.85%	74
KINGSTON, ONT.	119,423	-31.20%	60
THUNDER BAY, ONT.	114,286	49.96%	14
KELOWNA, B.C.	113,109	32.86%	19
SAANICH, B.C.	112,335	-60.37%	81
CHATHAM-KENT, ONT.	109,123	-35.63%	64
CODIAC REGION, N.B.	104,650	-25.68%	50
CAPE BRETON, N.S.	103,418	-12.25%	38
DELTA, B.C.	103,323	-60.80%	82
LANGLEY TOWNSHIP, B.C.	100,591	22.79%	25
RED DEER, ALTA.	97,038	-11.31%	36
ROUSSILLON RÉGIE INTERMUN., QUE.	95,717	-70.47%	91
VICTORIA, B.C.	95,477	65.70%	10
DRUMMOND MRC, QUE. – (DRUMMOND MRC, 24526)	95,448	-21.23%	44
BRANTFORD, ONT.	93,156	41.54%	17
NORTH VANCOUVER, B.C.	90,864	-69.59%	89
WELLINGTON COUNTY, ONT.	88,944	-74.48%	92
ST.JEAN-SUR-RICHELIEU, QUE.	88,803	-19.87%	43
REPENTIGNY, QUE.	86,644	-74.63%	93
NANAIMO, B.C.	83,648	28.61%	21
KAMLOOPS, B.C.	83,527	54.16%	13
MASKOUTAINS MRC, QUE.	82,456	-79.97%	97
LETHBRIDGE, ALTA.	82,146	29.14%	20
THÉRÈSE-DE-BLAINVILLE, QUE.	80,080	-27.25%	51
PETERBOROUGH LAKEFIELD, ONT.	76,368	-28.25%	53
MAPLE RIDGE, B.C.	76,267	23.85%	23
SAULTSTE. MARIE, ONT.	76,136	-12.71%	39
SARNIA,ONT.	74,253	6.85%	31
PRINCE GEORGE, B.C.	73,911	126.95%	4
CALEDON, ONT.	73,877	-86.69%	100
CHILLIWACK, B.C.	72,491	75.38%	6
CHÂTEAUGUAY, QUE.	69,899	-43.66%	72
SAINT JOHN, N.B.	69,357	46.75%	15
ARTHABASKA MRC, QUE.	67,618	-27.42%	52
SAINT-JÉRÔME, QUE.	67,600	35.36%	18
STORMONT/DUNDAS/GLENGARRY, ONT.	67,113	-42.42%	71
ST. ALBERT, ALTA.	64,535	-76.98%	95
NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C.	64,161	60.09%	12
NORFOLK, ONT.	63,864	-57.58%	79
OXFORD COMMUNITY, ONT.	62,221	-49.37%	73
GRANBY, QUE.	60,902	-28.44%	55
MEDICINE HAT, ALTA.	60,246	-31.77%	61
OROMOCTO, N.B.	59,890	-82.41%	99
JOLIETTE RÉGIE INTERMUN., QUE.	59,763	11.12%	30
PORT COQUITLAM, B.C.	59,732	60.99%	11
SOUTH SIMCOE, ONT., MUNICIPAL, ONT. – (Bradford West Gwillimbury and Innisfil, 35275)	57,584	-65.97%	86
NORTH BAY, ONT.	56,716	-38.08%	66
KINGS COUNTY, N.S.	55,066	-54.80%	75
TRACADIE-SHEILA, N.B.	54,869	-57.53%	78
FORT MCMURRAY, ALTA.	54,813	15.05%	28
MIDDLESEX, ONT.	54,417	-67.32%	88
NOTTAWASAGA, ONT.	54,122	-67.01%	87
RIMOUSKI-NEIGETTE, QUE.	53,667	-55.18%	76
MONTCALM MRC, QUE.	52,828	0.71%	32
PETROLIA, ONT.	52,661	-63.83%	83
FREDERICTON	52,339	-7.86%	34
STRATHCONA COUNTY, ALTA.	51,940	-39.16%	67
SHAWINIGAN MRC, QUE	51,875	-29.74%	59
KELOWNA, B.C. (Rural)	51,560	-34.37%	63
LAC-ST-JEAN-EST MRC, QUE.	51,543	-69.99%	90
HURONIA WEST, ONT.	51,263	-57.58%	80

Source: Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, Maclean’s

Methodology
Maclean’s obtained annual crime data from Statistics Canada for municipal police services with the 100 largest populations in the nation. Using 2007 rates per 100,000 population for six crimes—homicide, sexual assault, aggravated assault, vehicle theft, robbery plus breaking and entering—Maclean’s calculated the percentage difference from the national rate for each of the six crimes. In consultation with StatsCan, we gave each crime equal weights and standardized the rates to obtain an overall score that measured each area’s percentage difference from the national rate. Data from Nunavut and the Northwest Territories are excluded from the provincial and territorial score calculations due to their extreme crime rate values, which are inconsistent with the distribution of the rest of the country.

THE FULL RANKINGS:

Tags: Overall crime score—by population

Anne Tait

Not exactly a city……

In the overall crime score–by population, I noted that Petrolia, Ont. ranked 83rd with a quoted population of 52,661. I know the town well, and on a good day, the TOWN (hardly a city) boasts a population of 5,000 or less. How does that work?

wayne moores

I noticed that as well, population stats seem somewhat screwed up here for eastern Canada as well. The population of Halifax regional Municipality is closer to 400K not 200K. Crime is bad enough here but it looks like these figures would be totally exaggerating the problem by a factor of almost 2. Not to say in the remotest way that this city, pretty much like everywhere, is pray to thugs that the courts seem unwilling to lock up for good, but these numbers just don’t seem correct. Of course an article in this magazine last year assured us that oil was headed for 200 a bbl. and that life would never be the same. So don’t believe everything you read and always consider the source. Cheers

todd fountain

How about comparing real cities to real cities., comparing cities, counties,regions is not an accurate comparison. Bradford, West Gwillimbury, Innisfill (South Simcoe) is not a real city they are 3 towns that are in the Holland Marsh area of Ontario along with dozens of others between Toronto and Barrie.
Fraser

Anything that provides evidence that Ontario is the best province is ok in my books. All you haters can go rob each other!

wayne moores

Whooh, dude, what the heck are you talking about. Have a dube and chill out. Yikes!

Fraser

I guess you missed the joke….Since you’re probably stoned, I’ll explain:

It is no secret that Toronto/Ontario gets crapped on by the rest of Canada for thinking its the centre of the universe…or even better, for wanting to be New York/American…So, I played up that stereotype by suggesting that the rest of Canada are all criminals….Obviously, this is not the case…

Perhaps it is you that should put the pipe down and give your brain cells some fresh air.

I’m surprised your next post wasn’t wondering why the guy from Hamilton would be embarrassed by low crime rates.

Sue

Wow, I can’t believe such a blatantly rascist and hate inspiring message (by Chris) hasn’t been removed yet. For shame.

Tanya

Hes not being racist when he’s pointing out the facts. Its not an hate inspiring message if its the truth. Its sad to admit but not even you can say its not true, If you deny it your obviously blind.
wayne moores

He’s just telling the friggin’ truth. For the love of God, people like you, sticking your head in the sand and enabling one group of people to never grow up, have purpetuated a rediculous situation to continue. My brother worked on a reserve years ago. It was insanity then, 1000 times worse now. That’s right, name call anyone who states the obvious, keep shovelling money to the chiefs and their cronnies and pretend everything’s fine. I might remind you that the definition of insanity is to repeat the same actions over and over and to expect a different result. Have a nice day.

Fraser

Racist or not, it is interesting that people think that by censoring racist remarks, somehow the problem will go away.

Gues

What about freedom of speech ? I didn't get to read his comment because it was removed by the administrator. Coming from a heritage that has been and still are victims of racism, I still have to say it may have been a blatantly racist and hate inspiring message, but i have to ask on question ? I thought that people could say their opinions which ever the side on the scale of morality it may tip to.

Line

Il est intéressant de voir qu’il fait bon vivre au Québec. Peut-être que l’ouest pourrait s’inspirer de nos valeurs et de nos façons de faire, c’est-à-dire: moins d’armes à feu et moins de coercition tout en faisant plus de prévention.

RJR

What?

Lurker

Rough Translation: It’s interesting to see that it’s good livng in Quebec. Maybe the West can be inspired by our values and our ways of doing things. That’s to say, fewers guns, less incarceration and more prevention.
http://www.wwwdotcom.com Wes

Hah!

Lise laHaye

Vous avez raison Line.Quelle difference entre les Canadiens Francais et ceux de l’ouest.Je ne demeure plus a Quebec,mais j’observe depuis toujour! Gardez bien vos traditions et continuer de vivre en paix.
Justin

We need to amalgamate police forces throughout the lower mainland of Vancouver BC Canada.
Brammer

Strange.

Peel Region is identified as a City (its not).

Caledon is identified separately, but it is part of peel region.

????

bob

Notice the column heading….AREA

http://www.hotpepper.ca/ Kim Siever

Uh . . . this ranking does not prove a direct link between high crime rates and high native populations.
Gerry Cody

I live in the little town of Oromocto NB and its population is 8,900, yet in this article it boasts a population of 59,890. What gives MacLeans……………….
Kyle

I am a Newfoundlander and have spent years living in Quebec and Ontario and let me tell you, if you want a role model for peaceful living , look eastward. St. John's, NL is the safest place I've ever been, and I've been places. No homicide, no rape, no guns. Anomie breeds crime; community coercion kills it.