Categories: Canada

Canada’s most dangerous cities

See where your city ranks in terms of homicide, sexual assault, and other crimes

by macleans.ca on Thursday, October 14, 2010 3:30pm - 268 Comments

The West claimed the worst top 10 slots, as it did 10 years ago, when seven B.C. cities and three in Saskatchewan came in worst. Ontario and Quebec dominate the good list.

WORST CITIES	PERCENTAGE ABOVE THE NATIONAL CRIME SCORE
Prince George, B.C.	+90%
Victoria, B.C.	81
Regina, Sask.	73
Saskatoon, Sask.	69
Fort McMurray, Alta.	68
Kelowna, B.C.	65
Grande Prairie, Alta.	64
Surrey, B.C.	60
Chilliwack, B.C.	58
Winnipeg, Man.	57
BEST CITIES	PERCENTAGE BELOW THE NATIONAL CRIME SCORE
Caledon, Ont.	-70%
Wellington County, Ont.	58
Halton Region, Ont.	58
Lévis, Que.	51
Nottawasaga, Ont.	50
York Region, Ont.	49
Richelieu Saint-Laurent, Que.	48
South Simcoe, Ont.	44
Vaudreuil-Soulange MRC, Que.	44
Blainville, Que.	42

Sources: 2009 and 1999 Crime Severity Index data from the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, Maclean’s

See where your city ranks





Features

Canada’s shame Maclean’s third annual crime surveys shows an epidemic of violence in the North. Forget Arctic sovereignty. This is the problem that needs attention.	Safety in numbers? Why do Canada’s most populous provinces—Quebec and Ontario—boast so many of its safest cities?	The worst of the West Drugs plus gangs equal the top crime cities in Canada

METHODOLOGY: Maclean’s obtained annual crime data from Statistics Canada for municipal police services serving the nation’s 100 largest populations, each encompassing a city or town of at least 10,000 people. Using 2009 rates per 100,000 people for six crimes—homicide, sexual assault, aggravated assault, vehicle theft, robbery plus breaking and entering—in each area, Maclean’s calculated the percentage difference from the national rate. The overall crime score ranking for the 100 communities was created in consultation with StatsCan, using its Crime Severity Index (CSI) score and calculating the percentage difference from the national CSI score.

Tags: Crime, crime rankings, Most Dangerous Cities

Margie

Eastern Canada does not end in Quebec! I notice the Maritimes were completely left out of the stats. The safest and poorest area of Canada- move east.
http://www.city.pg.bc.ca City of PG

For those in Prince George please come out Monday November 1st for a free public forum about MYTHS and REALITY around gangs in our community ( http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=16024332733… ). Bring your comments as you posted here, and lets talk as a community.

bagagangbanger

$55 bucks is this a cash drive? make it free So even the unemployed can have a say !

aaaaaaaaaf

exactly why the hell are you charging $55 for this BS?

Deuce

Actually "Guest" my commet was concluded with a *wink* which in normal internet circles implies *joke*, Maybe you are just being a little too sensitive about the whole issue and pull your 10 gallon hat up a little so it doesn't squeeze your brain too much ;) (inserting *wink* again to imply a joke…just clarifying)

There is nothing arrogant about us in Ontario…we drive this country both ecomonomically and culturally therefore we believe we should have the greatest say in how the country is run…that is just reality not arrogance.

Guest

Have you ever left Ontario? The cultures across this country are not driven by Ontario, but by the unique populations within each area, although my "10 gallon hat" inspired look may have been inspired by a trip to Toronto. As far as driving the country "ecomonomically", you have fun with that.

I find it strange that I have to explain that for 38% of the population to have the greatest say for how an entire country is run is frustrating for the rest of the country.

PS: ;)

Deuce

Wow, I guess you don't read much or follow Canada's economy either. What does "culture" have to do with economy (my fast fingers the last time, glad you picked up on that)? With all due respect, Ontario drives Canada's economy and you must realize that.

You say "frustrated" because only 38% of the pop. has the greatest say in how the country is run. How would you feel if you lived here? OUR insane taxes ensure the have not provinces (maybe yours–don't know since you don't have a profile) survive. How would you feel knowing that?

Ontario could separate from Canada tomorrow and become one of the riches countries in the world. I have often thought what the reaction would be then if the hand that feeds you were to disappear.

PS…I have travelled Canada and abroad extensively and feel I can make this comment comfortably…btw, why do you feel that is an issue? Maybe suggesting I have no appreciation for the "culture" of other provinces or countries just because I haven't visited them? I believe you don't have to visit Antarctica to have an informed opinion about it….just do some simple research.

anonamis

If you lived in BC you wouldn't know its got the worst homicide rate in canada we are well protected
bagagangbanger

azereta..Well first off if you are in front of a video game (xbox ect) then it stands that you wont have any skills hence poverty! and getting fat and lazy.

2nd start looking at how crappy people are at teaching their brats…Get back to the old days ..you lip off you get a smack…do your chores and you get to watch tv for a Hour …ect Libs/NDP and the relaxed way of being a parent. is a major reason for this BS we tax payers are dealing with now!..bring back the strap in school…
ryan

IM RYAN FROM SAUDI ARABIA… IM student at UNBC
I HAVE BEEN IN PG for 2 years there is no anybody hit me yet !!!!!!!!!!

it is dangers that if you walk downtown in midnight ….. I LOVE PG
guest

You're not the sharpest knife in the drawer, are you Jacquie Aitken Kish
Krystall

I can't believe how many people here don't understand how statistics work. Let's get the stats on where all the stupid ppl live, and compare that to the crime rates.
Me from PG

I moved from Prince George to Chongqing, China – one of the largest cities in the world, and I've felt safer walking around this city any time of the day or night than when I was living in Prince George. From all the stories I've read in the local papers growing up, from everything I've heard about that doesn't make the papers, and from all the things I have personally seen and experienced in Prince George, I fully agree that something needs to change. Every time somebody asks me where I'm from, I feel slightly ashamed to answer Prince George.

eddie

Thats probably because you're bigger than all of them.

rita

Ill never be ashamed. Turning your back is easy facing the challenges and helping make the change pg needs creates true pride.

robert

A book called "Life At The Bottom" written by an English psychiatrist named Dalyrymple (sp?) a few years ago describes the social decline of England and several other countries. He discusses the fact that people there like to attribute the crime to imigrants, but that in England, and New Zealand, the fact is that the crime is mostly from born and bred lower income caucasian males.
I'll bet that the same holds true in Canada, though having said that, there are some really nasty etnic gangs here in BC.
Face it, the biggest problem is our pathetic legal system. If a Canadian commits a crime- lock em up. If a non-citizen commits a crime- deport em. As for native crime- they need a lot of help to reduce poverty, drug and alcohol addiction. They also need help to make sure the money goes where its needed, not to enrich the chiefs and their cronies.

rita

SO true!

E Henderson, Duncan

One needs to remember that there are 3 kinds of lies:
1. Lies
2. Damn Lies
3. Statistics

If Victoria BC is ranked second in crime I'd be happy to live in any city in Canada (if I'd live in a city, which I won't).
TRUTH

THE CANADIAN LAW SYSTEM IS CORRUPTED
russiantrams555

Where the hell did u get these statistics from. I happen to live in York Region , Ontario and you ranked it as one of the best cities to live in as far a crime goes. Thats a load of garbage. This city is terrible its full of people who immigrate to exploit the weak laws and weak enforcement. The city has a terrible demographic of dirt poor and filthy rich. Yo got mansions on one side and government projects on the other. Its actaully a great place to commit a crime if your the following : Poor, desperate, or want to take advantage of the weak police system. Next time you do an article like that try going to the place maybe u will find some real evidence.
Jackie

Why does Canada keeps welcoming boatloads of illegal aliens, the last one was from Sri Lanka with 500 penniless Tamils who paid $50,000 each to be smuggled into BC, and now the country has to raise them from scratch while so many citizens are in such precarious situation???

HELLO CANADUH???
J.R

SH@T!!! I LIVE IN SURREY
simon

ive lived in winnipeg and chilliwack and im pretty sure winnipeg is way sketchier, of course its very different crime, bc crime mostly just involves gangsters where as manitoba crime is just freaky and even the most innocent of people have to watch there backs
JacK

$uRRey ReP all day ErrDaYY
Jay

boy…you really need to keep up to date…the idea that native people do nothing but get help from the government is so far out there that you need professional help.
Confused NB-er

I'm surprised at the percentage on New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. I don't live In PEI, but it's a nice quiet province, I wouldn't imagine that the crime rate would be so high. It would make more sense to be higher in Nova Scotia. No a fence to you guys, as much as I love going to Halifax and all, I don't feel as safe on the streets as back home.
I'm a New Brunswicker, and I live in one of the larger cities there. I walk late at night after work and I don't feel scared at all that I'll get jumped or mugged. It's a very safe place. Same feeling I got in the Miramichi. So, I don't know where are those crimes are going on, there are some, but not a lot. I almost feel like we have more of a chance to hit a deer or a moose on the road than getting mugged or killed here.
Olivia

I've lived in Grande Prairie my entire life…….it's only dangerous if you go looking for that danger. I mean, I don't go wandering around downtown at 3 am. It has 50,000 for pete's sake…….I like how Edmonton isn't even on the list.

marco

It's number 13 of the overall list.

Olivia

50,000**

God, apparently I can't type anymore.
Tony

How dare Macleans suggests the West is dangerous!!!!..oh oh yeah we are all cowboys – I can just imagine the cover of your next magazine! I want an apology…no..no.. I want the GOVERNMENT!!! to apologize for Macleans!!!

OntarioTown

Hmm…..don't let your overly sensitive feelings get in the way of facts.

Ariadne

Believe us, we are quite enjoying to be in the limelight for once, thanks to your runaways. Should you wish for real adventure head out west, where adventure is our province's middle name (Best in Crime or is it Best in Cannabis?)! Get your camera ready, as action is just around the corner! Come to the province where people are walking high all the time, as Cannabis smell is free on the air!
Joe

SHUT UP, YOU ONTAIRABLE COWARD !!!!!!

OntarioTown

My, my – can't even spell. And, I don't shut up and take orders from lame brains like you.

Try paying attention to facts, it really would make you look more intelligent.

Jim

Sorry fella…After living in both ends of this country I can attest to the fact that the west is a more violent place. Actually, I call Alberta…."The United States of Alberta" considering the very obvious fact that Albertans think more like Americans than the Canadians from other provinces that I have met.. Social systems suck here, and it seems that Albertans, the ones i talk to at least, like it that way. To me Alberta is a shallow socially, backward province. If you haven`t lived anywhere else, then what do you have to compare to? I think it`s interesting that Western cities are more in line with the crime rates of U.S. cities…hmmm.
Ariadne

I expect to hear that kind rantings from either Islam extremists or from Quebec, but not from BC.

http://www.thehungryi.org KarmaTiger

I interpret the post demanding an apology as a sarcastic reaction to Quebec demanding an apology from Maclean's and the Government for the recent article on corruption in Quebec

John Simcoe

TORONTO is the best city in Canada.Period.The west sucks.That's why they are always griping about Toronto,because they are jealous.

Ariadne

Imagine the best city of Canada (Toronto as you suggested) is in the receiving end of equalization, I shudder to think what state will the worst city be in and what hell hole are we heading into?

George Yonge

Toronto isn't on the receiving end of equalization, Ontario is. Toronto is still a wealthy, productive city.

The recession primarily hit Ontario's enormous manufacturing industry. You're kidding yourself if you think Toronto is a factory city. You're thinking of places like Windsor and Oshawa.

Joe

YOU SUCK, YOU MAGGOT !! TORONTO IS THE RUDEST CITY IN CANADA, BY FAR AND YOU ARE ALL PROUD OF IT, HAVE YOU EVER BEEN OUT WEST !!!!! TYPICAL TORONTOTONIAN, BORN TO BELIEVE THAT WORLD REVOLVES TORONTO.
Joe

I WOULD LIKE TO PRONOUNCE YOU AND YOUR PROVINCE "ONTAIRIBLE" (PERIOD). LIKE I SAID MSN DECLARES TORONTO THE FOURTH RUDEST CITY IN THE WORLD !!!!!!!! AND MSN IS RIGHT !!!!!!

OntarioTown

Oh stay classy there Joe or Tony or whoever you are. Speaking of rude – are you not aware that using caps is rude?

How old are you? Shouldn't you be in school or something?

Raventhered

Hey if the west is considered dangerous by the east that just means that they are scared of us. Don“t be so sensitve. Think bad"!!. Cause you dangerous.

U MAD

If MacLean count those, Ottawa will be top.
Bill

Kelowna is one of the nicest places temperature and scenery wise in canada, there is lots of drugs gangs thugs and crime here though, thats forsure!
Jacquie Aitken Kish

How can Grande Prairie be 7th when its rating on all 5 factors listed are below 7?