What Is the Crime Rate in Canada’s Major Cities Right Now?
Crime and public safety remain important concerns for Canadian businesses, construction companies, property managers, retailers and residential communities. But which major Canadian cities currently have the highest police-reported crime rates?
As of July 2026, the newest complete and comparable national figures are Statistics Canada’s 2024 police-reported crime statistics. Crime statistics are released annually, so “current crime rate” does not mean real-time incidents occurring today.
Nationally, Canada’s Crime Severity Index decreased by 4% in 2024 after rising for three consecutive years. Canada recorded a Crime Severity Index of 77.9 and a police-reported crime rate of 5,672 incidents per 100,000 people. Statistics Canada reported that this was only the second national CSI decline in a decade.
Understanding the Crime Rate and Crime Severity Index
Statistics Canada publishes two important measurements:
Police-reported crime rate: The number of Criminal Code incidents, excluding traffic offences, reported per 100,000 people.
Crime Severity Index: A measurement that considers both the number and seriousness of reported crimes. More serious offences have a greater effect on a city’s CSI.
The national CSI was established at 100 in 2006. A city with a CSI above 100 has a higher combined volume and severity of crime than Canada recorded in that base year. However, CSI results should not be interpreted as a simple declaration that an entire city is safe or unsafe.
Latest Crime Rates in Major Canadian Cities
The following figures are from Statistics Canada’s 2024 census metropolitan area data:
| Canadian city or metropolitan area | Crime Severity Index | Crime rate per 100,000 | Change in crime rate |
| Canada | 77.9 | 5,672 | -4% |
| Winnipeg | 124.4 | 7,894 | -4% |
| Kelowna | 108.8 | 8,922 | -5% |
| Saskatoon | 106.7 | 7,953 | -10% |
| Edmonton | 101.1 | 7,108 | -6% |
| Regina | 100.3 | 7,503 | -7% |
| Moncton | 93.8 | 7,129 | -11% |
| Vancouver | 81.2 | 5,438 | -9% |
| St. John’s | 77.0 | 6,484 | +2% |
| Halifax | 74.0 | 6,020 | +6% |
| Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo | 72.7 | 5,359 | -3% |
| Victoria | 71.0 | 5,283 | -9% |
| Calgary | 62.3 | 4,796 | -14% |
| Windsor | 63.2 | 4,668 | +1% |
| Montréal | 61.7 | 3,674 | -4% |
| London | 61.2 | 4,743 | -5% |
| Toronto | 59.4 | 4,177 | -1% |
| Hamilton | 58.3 | 4,257 | -3% |
| Québec City | 55.3 | 3,595 | +1% |
| Ottawa | 53.8 | 4,298 | +1% |
These figures measure census metropolitan areas, which can include the central city and neighbouring municipalities connected to it. Statistics Canada also cautions that police practices, reporting patterns and the use of provincial or municipal offences can affect comparisons. View the complete Statistics Canada city table.
What Is the Crime Rate in Edmonton?
In 2024, the Edmonton metropolitan area recorded:
- Crime Severity Index: 101.1
- Police-reported crime rate: 7,108 per 100,000 people
- Change in CSI: 5% decrease
- Change in crime rate: 6% decrease
Edmonton’s CSI and conventional crime rate were both higher than the Canadian averages. However, both measurements improved compared with 2023.
These figures do not mean every Edmonton neighbourhood has the same level of risk. Crime patterns can vary significantly by property type, neighbourhood, time of day and surrounding activity.
Construction sites, retail stores, equipment yards, parking facilities, vacant buildings and commercial properties may face risks that are not fully reflected by a citywide average.
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What Is the Crime Rate in Calgary?
In 2024, the Calgary metropolitan area recorded:
- Crime Severity Index: 62.3
- Police-reported crime rate: 4,796 per 100,000 people
- Change in CSI: 14% decrease
- Change in crime rate: 14% decrease
Calgary experienced one of the most substantial year-over-year improvements among Canada’s major metropolitan areas. Its 2024 CSI and conventional crime rate were below the national averages.
However, a declining citywide crime rate does not eliminate property-specific security risks. Construction theft, retail theft, trespassing, vandalism and unauthorized access can still occur even when overall crime statistics improve.
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Crime Rate in Toronto
Toronto recorded a Crime Severity Index of 59.4 and a crime rate of 4,177 incidents per 100,000 people in 2024. Its CSI increased by 1%, while its conventional crime rate decreased by 1%.
Toronto’s overall figures were below the Canadian averages. Nevertheless, the size and density of the metropolitan area mean security needs can vary substantially among commercial districts, construction projects, residential properties, retail centres and industrial locations.
Crime Rate in Vancouver
Vancouver recorded a Crime Severity Index of 81.2 and a crime rate of 5,438 incidents per 100,000 people.
Its CSI decreased by 8%, while the conventional crime rate declined by 9%. Vancouver’s crime rate was slightly below the Canadian average, although its CSI was higher than the national figure of 77.9.
Crime Rate in Winnipeg
Winnipeg had the highest CSI among the largest metropolitan areas included in this comparison:
- Crime Severity Index: 124.4
- Crime rate: 7,894 per 100,000
- Change in CSI: 4% decrease
- Change in crime rate: 4% decrease
Although both measurements declined, Winnipeg’s crime rate and CSI remained considerably higher than the Canadian averages.
Crime Rates in Regina and Saskatoon
Regina recorded a CSI of 100.3 and a crime rate of 7,503 per 100,000 people. Its crime rate declined by 7%.
Saskatoon recorded a CSI of 106.7 and a crime rate of 7,953 per 100,000 people. Its crime rate declined by 10%.
Both Saskatchewan metropolitan areas experienced improvements, but their CSI and conventional crime rates remained above the national averages.
Crime Rates in Montréal, Ottawa and Québec City
Montréal recorded a CSI of 61.7 and a crime rate of 3,674 per 100,000 people.
Ottawa recorded a CSI of 53.8 and a crime rate of 4,298 per 100,000 people.
Québec City recorded a CSI of 55.3 and a crime rate of 3,595 per 100,000 people.
All three cities recorded CSI results below the national figure of 77.9.
Crime Rates in Halifax, Moncton and St. John’s
Halifax recorded a CSI of 74.0 and a crime rate of 6,020 per 100,000 people. Its crime rate increased by 6%.
Moncton recorded a CSI of 93.8 and a crime rate of 7,129 per 100,000 people, although both measurements declined by 11%.
St. John’s recorded a CSI of 77.0 and a crime rate of 6,484 per 100,000 people. Its crime rate increased by 2%, while its CSI decreased by 7%.
Which Major Canadian Cities Had Higher Crime Rates?
Among the major metropolitan areas reviewed, the highest conventional crime rates were recorded in:
- Kelowna – 8,922 per 100,000
- Saskatoon – 7,953
- Winnipeg – 7,894
- Regina – 7,503
- Moncton – 7,129
- Edmonton – 7,108
Among additional metropolitan areas, Chilliwack, Red Deer and Kamloops recorded even higher crime rates, although their populations are smaller than Canada’s largest urban centres.
A higher citywide rate does not mean every neighbourhood or business faces the same danger. It indicates that police recorded more Criminal Code incidents relative to the metropolitan population.
Why Businesses Still Need Security When Crime Rates Decline
A falling crime rate is positive, but it does not eliminate individual risk. Citywide statistics cannot tell a business owner whether a particular construction site, retail store or equipment yard will be targeted tonight.
Properties can remain vulnerable because of:
- Valuable equipment or inventory
- Poor lighting
- Incomplete fencing
- Multiple entrances
- Limited overnight occupancy
- Repeated trespassing
- Previous thefts
- Delayed alarm response
- Blind spots in camera coverage
- Public access to the property
Security decisions should therefore be based on a site-specific risk assessment, not citywide statistics alone.
Physical Guards, Cameras and Mobile Patrols
Different risks require different security solutions.
Security guards can intervene, control access, verify visitors, inspect suspicious activity and respond immediately.
CCTV cameras provide continuous visibility, recorded evidence and remote monitoring but cannot physically stop an incident.
Mobile patrols provide scheduled or random inspections at a lower cost than maintaining a permanent guard.
A hybrid security solution combining guards, patrols and cameras often provides the strongest coverage for construction sites, commercial buildings and industrial properties.
Always Hire a Provincially Licensed Security Agency
Security providers must satisfy the licensing requirements of the province where they operate. Before hiring a security company, verify:
- The company’s provincial security agency licence
- Individual security guard licences
- Commercial liability insurance
- Workers’ compensation coverage
- Employee screening and training
- Supervision and incident-reporting procedures
Hiring an unlicensed or improperly insured security provider can create regulatory, contractual, insurance and liability risks.
Security Guard Services Across Canada
Central Protection Services provides customized security solutions in Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Surrey, Saskatoon, Regina, Winnipeg, Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Hamilton, Ottawa and other Canadian communities, subject to provincial licensing and local service availability.
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Request a Security Assessment
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