The Rankings: Canada’s most dangerous cities
Mar 5, 2009 by Ken MacQueen & Patricia Tremble
First, the good news. For the second year in a row, Caledon, Ont., 40
km northwest of Toronto and a world away, ranks as the safest city in
Maclean’s annual crime ranking of Canada’s 100 largest cities. Its
crime score is 87 per cent below the national average. If not for a single
murder, it would put even more distance between itself and its nearest
rivals, Oromocto, N.B., a scenic, riverfront community near Canadian
Forces Base Gagetown, and Lévis, Que., a prosperous civil service enclave
across the St. Lawrence from Quebec City.
Quebec’s capital, incidentally, is another safe haven.
Its crime score for the six offences tracked in the
Maclean’s index (murder, robbery, aggravated
assault, sexual assault, breaking and entering, and
auto theft) ranked 40 per cent below the national
average in 2007, the last year for which Statistics
Canada data are available. Even more impressive
for a city of 535,000, it recorded not a single
homicide that year—by far the largest of 34 cities
that were murder-free.
Canada’s two largest cities, Toronto and Montreal, also fared well. While
news headlines leave the impression streets run with blood, the worst of
the crime is committed within a few high-risk areas. Maclean’s ranked
Toronto’s crime score a respectable 29th of 100 cities, improving from
26th last year. Montreal improved to 24th from 19th.
As for the blot on Caledon’s record, it warrants an asterisk. “That particular homicide
was not committed in the Caledon area,” says Greg Sweeney, Ontario Provincial Police
detachment commander for the region of 74,000. “The victim was brought back and left
here. Within six weeks we had it solved and people before the courts.” Caledon isn’t free
of big city problems, says Sweeney, “but the frequency of it is low.” It helps that Caledon
is a semi-rural oasis, with a stable and prosperous population.
Life isn’t so sweet at the other end of the spectrum. Saskatoon has the highest crime
ranking in the Maclean’s survey, 163 per cent above the national average. Winnipeg
ranks second with a crime score 153 per cent above average while Regina finishes third
at 136 per cent. The same cities were in a virtual three-way tie last year for the worst
crime score.
The three cities share several things in common: much of the crime is rooted in poor,
inner-city cores and targets its most vulnerable citizens. There is a large gang presence
feeding off the drug trade and other illegal activities. Those areas also house a young
transient population, with a low level of education, substandard housing and high levels
of unemployment, broken homes, addictions and psychiatric issues—all risk factors for
crime. They have proportionately the highest urban Aboriginal populations among major
cities, about 10 per cent. This is a predominately young population, burdened with risk
factors. “They are 10 times more likely to be victims and suspects,” says Neil Boyd, a
criminologist at Simon Fraser University. “It’s basically a very tragic reality.”
The West continues to have chronically high crime levels. Of the top 10 crime centres,
only Halifax (No. 7) is east of Winnipeg. The others in the top 10 include Edmonton (No.
5) and the B.C. cities of Prince George, Chilliwack, Vancouver, Surrey and Victoria.
While crime rates vary from year to year, comparing the results with data from 2002 and
1997 shows that specific crimes plague certain cities. Port Coquitlam, B.C., was
Canada’s murder capital in 2002, and again in 2007. It also made the worst jump in the
overall crime score, rising to 11th place from 34th in 2006. Saint John, N.B., led in
sexual assaults in 2007. It was also in the top 10 both five and 10 years back, as were
Prince George and Saskatoon. Auto thefts are chronic in several cities, notably
Winnipeg and Surrey. Five cities—Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Vancouver, New Westminster
and Montreal—were top 10 robbery capitals in all three surveys.
Few crimes afflict more Canadians than breaking and entering, and no region is more
beset than the West. Chilliwack, Regina, Prince George and Vancouver consistently
figure in the top 10. In 2007, the 16 cities with the highest break-and-enter rates are all
from Winnipeg or further west. More remarkably, 13 of those 16 cities are in B.C.
The western crime wave defies easy explanation. Calgary alderman and police board
member Diane Colley-Urquhart says many criminals followed the wealth to Alberta and
further west. “Along with the economic prosperity that the western provinces have
enjoyed comes the underbelly of organized crime.” Adds Boyd: “We have resource
towns of young men. That’s part of the portrait as well.”
Drugs drive crime, especially in a port city like Vancouver, he says. And feeding drug
habits is the key cause of B.C. property theft. Vancouver police are monitoring 379
chronic criminals with an average of 39 convictions each. Perversely, the jail time given
the worst of these drops as their number of convictions rise, a study by the department
found. A frustrated police Chief Jim Chu wants Parliament to pass a version of the gettough American law that puts chronic offenders away after three offences. His uniquely
B.C. take would be “30 strikes and you’re out,” he says. “We were actually willing to be
10 times more lenient.”
http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/03/05/the-most-dangerous-cities-in-canada/
March 12, 2009
Caledon is again the safest community in Canada,
according to Maclean's
It's not likely that many Caledon residents
are going to be tempted to move to
Saskatoon in the near future.
Caledon OPP was quoted as saying.
"Within six weeks, we had it solved and
people before the courts."
And when it comes to safety, why would
they?
He added the town has some of the
problems that plague big cities, "but the
frequency of it is low."
For the second year in a row, Caledon
was named the safest community in
Canada in the annual crime ranking in
Maclean's magazine. The details are
contained in the March 16 edition of the
magazine, which appeared on local
stands this week.
The cover story, written by Ken
MacQueen, stated Caledon's crime score
was 87 per cent below the national
average.
"If not for a single murder (June 2007), it
would put even more distance between
itself and its nearest rivals," he wrote.
Those rivals included Oromocto, N.B.,
and Levis, Que.
By contrast, the highest crime ranking
was the Maclean's survey was Saskatoon,
with a score of 163 per cent more than the
national average, followed by Winnipeg at
153 and Regina at 136.
And the story stressed the 2007 murder
didn't even happen in Caledon. The body
of a 24-year-old man of no fixed address
was discovered in a wooded area near
Duffy's Lane and Patterson Sideroad the
morning of June 26.
"The victim was brought back and left
here," Acting Inspector Greg Sweeney of
Caledon OPP reported Maclean's bases
its findings on six areas, including
homicide, auto theft, break and enter,
robbery, aggravated assault and sexual
assault. The statistics are obtained
annually from municipal police services
with the 100 largest populations in the
nation. Using 2007 rates per 100,000
populations, Maclean's calculated the
percentage difference from the national
rate for each of the six crime categories.
In consultation with Statistics Canada,
each crime was given equal weight and
standardization rates to obtain an overall
score that measured each area's
percentage difference from the national
rate.
"This achievement was made possible by
the strong partnership between the
Caledon OPP, Town council and local
community groups," commented Mayor
Marolyn Morrison. "Caledon OPP have
worked hard to find Caledon solutions to
Caledon problems.'
Morrison also expressed her thanks to
Sweeney and his team for their
contributions.
"This is an example of what can be
accomplished when council and police
have a positive working relationship," she
added. "Caledon OPP have worked
diligently to find solutions that truly work
for our town. We certainly appreciate their
commitment to the safety and well-being
of our residents."
People
at
the
detachment
were
understandably very excited about the
ranking, observing it reflects the work that
is accomplished daily between the police,
the Town, and the community.
"The Caledon OPP detachment works
cooperatively with our justice partners and
the Town of Caledon" Sweeney
explained. "The Caledon detachment has
an excellent working relationship with the
Town of Caledon, which is supportive of
our programs and initiatives geared
towards increasing public safety and
security."
The programs he cited, that are delivered
by the police and local community groups,
include the Youth Leadership Program,
which brings local youth and the police
together. Each student has an opportunity
to learn from one another and the
program allows the youth to complete
their community service hours required for
graduation from high school. Project
Lifesaver is a pilot project that assists
families of autistic children who have
wandered away from home through the
use of an electronic transmitter and
receiver.
He also pointed to the Policing Advisory
Council of Caledon (PACC), a committee
that oversees such programs as
Restorative Justice for youths who have
become in conflict with the law, Crime
Prevention, Citizens on Patrol and Road
Watch.
"Caledon detachment's main focus is on
youth issues, traffic enforcement, and
reducing victimization," Sweeney added.
"We are always mindful of the residents of
the Town of Caledon and how they feel
about their community. We want to
promote
volunteerism
within
the
community, so that the residents take
ownership of their community to make it a
better place to live, work, and play."
There was plenty of praise from other
quarters, as Dufferin — Caledon MPP
Sylvia Jones offered her congratulations
for the recognition.
"I am very proud to represent a town such
as Caledon, which takes pride in its
people and its community," Jones said in
a statement released by her office.
She also acknowledged the Caledon
detachment of OPP and volunteers for the
Caledon Policing Advisory Council, as
well as the Town, for their efforts in
keeping the community safe.
"I thank them for all of their hard work to
make Caledon a safer place," she
declared.
"Hundreds of volunteer hours are put in
every year by outstanding organizations
like Citizens on Patrol, Youth Leadership
and Road Watch," Jones added. "A price
cannot be placed on your dedication to
community safety."
"Finally, I congratulate the residents of
Caledon," she commented. "It is your hard
work and pride in your community that
brings you the recognition you so deserve
in making Caledon a safer community to
live, work and raise a family."
Dufferin — Caledon MP David Tilson was
also pleased with the news.
"This top ranking is a testament to the
hard work, dedication, and commitment to
excellence
by
Caledon's
local
government, police, fire and emergency
services,
and
many
outstanding
community
groups,"
He
declared.
"Caledon has tremendous community
spirit, which has certainly contributed to it
receiving this designation for a second
year in a row."
In Canada's safest city, even the kids fight crime
DARREN CALABRESE FOR THE TORONTO STAR
Mari Contente walks home from school with his 6-year-old son, John, in East Caledon on March 5, 2009. Residents speak glowingly of their safe community.
Close-knit Caledon wins honour for second year
March 06, 2009
DANIEL DALE
STAFF REPORTER
In the summer of 2008, a group of bored teenagers in Caledon started to do what
groups of bored teenagers in small towns are expected to do: cause adults needless
aggravation. For more than a month, says Matthew Raekelboom, 16, they wreaked
havoc with spray paint, defacing schools, businesses and signs with graffiti.
And then, Caledon being Caledon, a group of teens made them stop.
"Everyone said, `We're going to stop it. Not in our town,'" Raekelboom said.
"Everyone found out who it was, and that's what we told them. If people want to do
graffiti, there's no way we can stop them. But do it somewhere else. We want to
keep this town like it is."
For a second consecutive year, Maclean's magazine has named Caledon Canada's
safest city. The honour, based on 2007 per-capita crime rates for six serious
offences, does not surprise its residents, who speak of their town, a collection of
separate small communities, with the fawning adjectives usually deployed by
politicians.
Caledon borders bustling Brampton. It is part of Peel Region, one of the country's
most highly populated urban municipalities. Yet it is the type of place, said flower
and gift shop owner Carmela Gagliese-Scoles, 35, where one must budget an extra
10 to 15 minutes for trips to the grocery store, since "you always run into
somebody you know."
It is the type of place, said Kyle Raymond, 27, where a young man can prowl
backyards at 2 a.m. searching for a lost dog and still be ignored, since "everybody
knows nothing is going to happen."
Caledon, still heavily rural despite a population of about 59,000, benefits from a
rare combination of low population density (83 residents per square kilometre in
2006) and wealth ($89,536 median family income).
Mayor Marolyn Morrison, however, said the town owes its safety to more than
money. The "community-based policing" model the local Ontario Provincial Police
detachment endorses leverages residents' feelings of attachment to their
neighbours to make the town safer.
Not one young person who has been funnelled through the town's "restorative
justice" program, in which teenage offenders are brought face-to-face with their
victims, has ever reoffended. Also effective, she said, is a program in which local
residents conduct neighbourhood patrols.
And because of Caledon's relatively small population, she said, its politicians and
police officials can do things their counterparts in Toronto cannot. When the weather
is tolerable, she and the head of the Caledon OPP detachment, Acting Insp. Greg
Sweeney, knock on doors to talk with residents about their concerns.
Caledon is not without looming safety challenges. Its proximity to burgeoning
Brampton, a city with "the inherent problems that a large metropolitan area has,"
said Sweeney, "does have its effects on us."
And Caledon itself plans to get bigger. New developments are expected to bring the
population to over 84,000 by 2021.
Morrison called it "moderate growth, well-planned; not rampant, out-of-control
growth." The effective policing strategies already in place, she said, can be easily
extended to new subdivisions.
But Sweeney said town council will need to ensure his force's resources keep up
with the population increases. And several residents interviewed yesterday fear the
growth will rob their community of the you-know-me, I-know-you familiarity that
makes it feel so safe.