Maclean's exclusive report: Most dangerous cities in Canada are in the West

Report ranks our cities from the most crime-ridden to the safest. With Victoria making the top 10, these results are startling.

TORONTO - Surprises emerged when Maclean's went searching for Canada's safest, and most dangerous communities. Toronto and Montreal, obvious crime-ridden candidates with their well-publicized racial tensions and gun and gang violence, rank well down a danger list of the 100 largest cities or regions in the country - those of 50,000 people or more. Montreal ranks 19th on Maclean's crime list and Toronto the Good (some stereotypes are true) is a sleepy 26th, gruesome headlines notwithstanding.


The most notable result is the geographic distribution of Canadian crime.

Top Ten High Crime Cities:

1. Regina
2. Saskatoon
3. Winnipeg
4. Prince George
5. Edmonton
6. New Westminster
7. Chilliwack
8. Victoria
9. Vancouver
10. Halifax

- Rankings are based on 2006 per-capita crime rates, the most recent available from the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics.

- Caledon, Ont. is, statistically, Canada safest community.

- For a breakdown of rankings of the worst and safest 10 communities for murder, auto theft, aggravated assault, sexual assault, robbery and breaking and entering rates - www.macleans.ca/dangerouscities.