Most dangerous cities in Canada

Canada is usually considered one of the safest countries in the world. But let's not pretend there is NO crime here. If you tune in to CP24 local news of an evening, you'd quickly be disabused of that idea.

Anyway, the website Numbeo, as quoted by Boutique Adventurer, has produced a handy guide to the most dangerous and crime-ridden cities in Canada. The results make for sobering, and often surprising, reading.

It turns out that the city with the worst Crime Index in Canada (64.3) is Surrey, BC. Part of the Metro Vancouver Area, Surrey is considered a good and relatively affordable place to live. But in recent years, drug crime and gang violence have become a problem.

No. 2 is Lethbridge, Alberta's fourth largest city, with a Crime Index of 63.89. It's rapid growth has led to increased crime, particularly drug-related. No. 3, according to Boutique Adventurer, is Red Deer, Alberta, with a Crime Index of 61.75. Drugs, vandalism and theft are the main issues.

I say "according to Boutique Adventurer", because when I check Numbeo's own website, I get a slightly different list. Surrey is still worst, but no Lethbridge, no Red Deer. Strange. A different year's statistics maybe?

Anyway, here's the rest of Numbeo's top (bottom?) ten:

1. Surrey BC (64.3)

2=. Kelowna, BC (62.3)

2=. Sudbury ON (62.3)

4. Brantford, ON (60.8)

5. Winnipeg, MB (60.6)

6. Oshawa, ON (60.5)

7. Sault Ste. Marie, ON (60.3)

8. Hamilton, ON (56.0)

9. Brampton, ON (55.5)

10. Kamloops BC (54.8)

What about Toronto, you say? Toronto is down at No. 20 out of 33, with a relatively benign Crime Index of 43.7, well below the likes of Regina, Saskatoon and Edmonton. And the safest cities (of the 33 dealt with in this list)? Quebec City (22.5),  Oakville (26.0) and Burlington (29.2).