Number of homicides in Waterloo Region dropped in 2023: StatCan
Posted Jan 15, 2025 03:40:29 PM.
Last Updated Jan 15, 2025 03:40:33 PM.
New numbers from Statistics Canada shows the number of homicides in Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge (KWC) decreased between 2022 and 2023.
In 2023, there were five reported homicides across the three cities, a decrease from the eight reported in 2022, or 33 per cent. The number of attempted homicides did increase from four to eight in the same time period.
The homicide rate across the three cities is 0.74 per 100,000 people, well below the national average of 1.94 and the provincial average of 1.68. KWC is ranked 35th among all census metropolitan areas (CMAs) and 13th among provincial CMAs, lower than other cities such as Toronto, London, Oshawa and St. Catharines-Niagara.
Dr. John Fast, a strategic planner with the Strategic Services Branch of Waterloo Regional Police, said during Wednesday’s police service board meeting that the numbers for 2024 are slightly better.
“While the number of homicides in 2024 remain level with 2023, the number of attempt homicides dropped by 50 per cent from eight to four,” said Fast.
Statistics Canada released the Homicides Trends in Canada, 2023 report last month on Dec. 11.
In total, there were 778 homicides across the country in 2023, a decrease of 104, or 14 per cent, from the year before. Ontario’s homicide rate also dropped by 13 per cent and has a lower rate than provinces like B.C., Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba.
