Canada is renowned for its excellent standard of living and general safety, but certain communities struggle with crime rates that are higher than the national average.
According to their Crime Severity Index (CSI), which gauges the volume and seriousness of recorded crimes, Canada’s top ten most dangerous cities are often determined. These cities usually have problems like violent crime, property crime, and drug-related offenses. It’s crucial to remember that, by international standards, even Canada’s most violent cities are rather safe.
It is easier to identify regions that need targeted community and policy actions when one is aware of the issues these cities face.
This data is as per the last updated information available.
List of Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities in Canada
- Red Deer, AB
- Kelowna, BC
- Saskatoon, SK
- Winnipeg, MB
- Regina, SK
- Richmond, BC
- Edmonton, AB
- Windsor, ON
- Vancouver, BC
- London, ON
1. Red Deer, AB
Red Deer, Alberta, is in first place for the most dangerous city in Canada. Famous for its “Gasoline Alley,” this city is located about midway between Calgary and Edmonton. Red Deer tops the list with a CSI of 176.4 and has high rates of both violent and non-violent crime.
The Red Deer RCMP’s Quarterly Community Policing Report indicates that while personal crimes have slightly increased, property crimes have drastically decreased.
Property crimes had dropped by 9% from the same quarter the previous year and by 27.8% from two years prior, with 1,952 property crime offenses recorded in Q3 2023 compared to 2,704 in Q3 2021.
2. Kelowna, BC
Kelowna is well-known for its stunning landscapes, liquor, and orchards—and nowadays, crime. Locals may be surprised to learn that it has the highest CSI in BC, at 141.9. It’s interesting to see that their violent CSI is far lower than their non-violent one.
Having 10,532 crimes per 100,000 persons, Kelowna had the highest recorded crime rate among Canada‘s census metropolitan areas (CMA) in 2023.
Despite Lethbridge in second place at 9,358 and Winnipeg in third place at 8,757, no other CMA exceeded 10,000. At 5,668 per 100,000, the average crime rate nationwide was far lower.
3. Saskatoon, SK
Fire crews’ encounters with individuals who were not properly housed increased by a noteworthy 65.6% between 2022 and 2023 in the city of Saskatoon. At the same time, contacts with encampments almost doubled.
“Sharps incidents” and overdose events have increased in the Confederation Suburban region and the Fairhaven neighborhood, with fire department calls increasing from 289 in 2019 to 1,395 in 2023.
A record 150,000 service requests were also registered by the Saskatoon Police Service in 2024, a 12% increase over 2023.
4. Winnipeg, MB
Winnipeg, the capital of Manitoba, has a CSI of 118.5 and currently stands at number four on our list.
Among the cities on our ranking, Winnipeg has the second-highest violent crime CSI, indicating a significant difference between violent and non-violent crime.
According to Statistics Canada’s information, which calculates crime per 100,000 people, Winnipeg saw the worst increase in crime severity (20%) of any Canadian city between 2021 and 2022.
5. Regina, SK
The rate of violent crime in Regina is far greater than the rate of non-violent crime.
According to Richmond’s most important 2024 crime data, there have been 250 documented cases of aggravated assault, indicating that this crime is still a serious threat.
Given 50 and 26 occurrences, respectively, property crimes, including car and home burglaries, are particularly noteworthy.
The city also recorded 71 occurrences of arson, highlighting the continued difficulties in managing both violent and property crimes.
6. Richmond, BC
Richmond’s crime rate is mostly driven by nonviolent crime, with a CSI of 121.2. Their violent CSI, at 66.2, is significantly lower.
At 465 occurrences, aggravated assault is the most common violent crime in Richmond, which has reported 2,255 index crimes so far in 2024.
Significant property crime problems were brought to light by the city’s 787 larceny-theft cases and 619 vehicle thefts. Notably, there have only been eight recorded killings this year, making them comparatively rare.
7. Edmonton, AB
Edmonton has a CSI of 106.2, the highest of the two main cities in Alberta. The violent crime rate in Alberta’s capital is likewise high.
The total crime rate decreased by 7.2%, which is one of the most positive results.
The crime severity index increased by 4.6% even though the total crime rate decreased.
8. Windsor, ON
Windsor, which is situated at the largest border crossing between the United States and Canada, has nearly similar rates of violent and non-violent crime.
Windsor, Canada, has a modest crime rate, as shown by its 45.47 Crime Index and 54.53 Safety Index.
According to 67.54% of locals, crime has significantly grown during the last five years. Property crimes like auto theft (49.43%) and house break-ins (43.24%) are of moderate concern, while violent crimes like abuse and armed robbery are likewise of moderate worry (42.15%).
9. Vancouver, BC
Vancouver is a beautiful place to visit, but regrettably, crime rates aren’t that good. Locals say that while there is a mix of violent and non-violent crime, drug abuse and addiction are the main problems.
The high expense of living contributes to a severe homelessness issue, particularly in places like the Downtown Eastside, and raises crime rates in the city.
The VPD reports that there are 8.62 crimes per 1000 residents in Vancouver.
10. London, ON
London is about midway between Windsor and Toronto. London, which is well-known for its robust industrial sector, has a violent crime rate that is far higher than its non-violent crime rate. Concerns about crime have also been exacerbated by the city’s record for frequent bike thefts.
Robbery from motor vehicles, industrial robbery, residential burglary, robbery of persons, theft, and burglary from business premises were among the 326 offenses that the City of London Police reported in April 2024.
The city’s continued crime problems are highlighted by this statistic, underscoring the necessity of continuous efforts to increase safety and security.
Conclusion
The most dangerous cities in Canada are those with higher-than-average Crime Severity Indexes (CSIs), which identify certain regions that continue to struggle with public safety and crime. Even if problems like drug use, property crimes, and violent crimes still exist in certain areas, it’s important to keep in mind that Canada is still among the safest nations in the world. Local government representatives, legislators, and neighborhood associations are always working to solve these issues and enhance living circumstances.
A more sophisticated understanding of these cities’ challenges is fostered by acknowledging the complexity behind crime rates, such as socioeconomic variables and resource allocation. However, a city’s crime rate does not fully capture its character; many of these areas have thriving populations, a diverse range of cultures, and the opportunity for good development. Canada keeps working to lower crime rates and make its communities safer for all of its citizens by emphasizing cooperation, funding social services, and improving enforcement techniques.
