Canada's Most Dangerous Cities - An Excerpt

Regina City

Canada's Most Dangerous Cities

Macleans announces the "Most Dangerous Cities in Canada" list

Canada's a safe place to travel compared to many countries around the world. According to the Economist, it's the 5th safest country to live in or travel to, which makes Canadians pretty damn proud.

But is it safer to visit the quaint and folksy East Coast or chic and trendy Vancouver? Maybe it's better to Canada's Safest CitiesCanada's Safest Citieshedge your bets on an interior city. Toronto, Calgary, Montreal? Macleans "Most Dangerous Cities in Canada" might help you figure out where in Canada you want to go.

The magazine ranked cities based on 2006 per capita crime rates. Results were then aggregated from 6 personal and property crimes: murder, sexual assault, aggravated assault (the most serious), robbery, breaking and entering and auto theft. This method of ranking is the same system used by the Congressional Quarterly Press that rates American cities.

Detroit, the United States' most dangerous city is overall 10X more dangerous than Edmonton (Alberta), the most dangerous Canadian city. But when you break down the individual crimes, some Canadian cities have earned an unattractive reputation.

* You're more likely to have your car stolen in Joliette (Quebec) or Winnipeg (Manitoba) than Detroit or Las Vegas - the auto theft capitals of the US.
* Robbery rates in Winnipeg (Manitoba), Regina and Saskatoon (Saskatchewan) outrank the top 10 robbery-plagued US cities.

The cities below are list from most dangerous to least dangers for their overall crime/safety ranking.

1. Regina (Saskatchewan)
2. Saskatoon (Saskatchewan)
3. Winnipeg (Manitoba)
4. Prince George (British Columbia)
5. Edmonton (Alberta)
6. New Westminster (British Columbia)
7. Chilliwack (British Columbia)
8. Victoria (British Columbia)
9. Vancouver (British Columbia)
10. Halifax (Nova Scotia)

British Columbia has the most cities in the top 10 list, with the "Wild West" cities shoving out the rest of the competition. With the exception of Halifax - the only city on the East Coast. Montreal (Quebec) ranked a surprising 19 and Toronto 26. Some of our favorite Canadian cities didn't even make into the top 100, like Charlottetown (Prince Edward Island).

All in all, Canada's considered very safe - whether you live here or visit. And the best way to safe - regardless of where you are - is common sense.

What's your favorite Canadian city? How does it compare on Macleans list?