Saskatoon has 2nd highest homicide rate in Canada during 2015

Saskatoon had the second highest homicide rate among Canadian cities in 2015, according to figures released Wednesday by Statistics Canada.

The federal agency said there were 10 homicides in Saskatoon, a rate of 3.22 victims for every 100,000 population.

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Regina had the highest rate at 3.30 homicides per 100,000 people. Regina police reported eight homicides in 2015.

Saskatchewan had the highest homicide rate among the provinces, at 3.79 per for every 100,000 persons.

Provincially, there were 43 homicides in 2015, an increase of 19 from the previous year.

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Statistics Canada said the number of firearm-related homicides in the province increased from 0.36 per 100,000 in 2014 to 0.97 per 100,000 in 2015.

There were less gang-related homicides in Saskatchewan during 2015, with gangs involved in 12 per cent of all homicides, down from 25 per cent the previous year.

Nationally, police reported 604 homicides in 2015, up 83 from the previous year and the highest reported since 2011.

Aboriginal people accounted for 25 per cent of all homicides in Canada in 2015.

In Saskatchewan, 29 of the 43 homicide victims were aboriginal.