Winnipeg named 2008 Murder Capital

WINNIPEG – Winnipeg has regained the nefarious title of Murder Capital of Canada for large urban centres.

Statistics Canada released its 2008 Homicide in Canada report this morning which found Winnipeg atop the list of the country’s 10 largest centres with the highest per-capita rate of homicide.

There were 31 homicides in the Winnipeg census metropolitan area in 2008, which gave the city a murder rate of 4.07. The next city was Edmonton, with a rate of 3.44.

Statistics Canada said there were six other cities which reported a greater number of homicides in 2008 but Winnipeg had the highest per capita rate.

Statistics Canada found that the smaller B.C. community of Abbotsford-Mission, plagued by a series of gang-related homicides, scored an even higher per capita homicide rate, of 4.71.

On a provincial basis, Manitoba reported 54 homicides in 2008, giving it the highest per capital homicide rate (4.47) among the 10 provinces.

There were more homicides reported in four other provinces: Ontario (176), British Columbia (117), Alberta (110), and Quebec (92).

Nationally, there were 17 more homicides in 2008 than the previous year, resulting in a 2 per cent increase in the national homicide rate. Statistics Canada said the 2008 increase was due almost entirely to increases in Alberta and B.C., most of which were gang-related.