By The Canadian Press

National homicide rate rose 15 per cent in 2015 – the highest level since 2011

Nov 23, 2016 | 11:50 AM

OTTAWA –  One quarter of the 604 homicide victims reported by Canadian police services in 2015 were aboriginal.

That’s even though aboriginal people accounted for only about five per cent of Canada’s population in 2015.

Statistics Canada reports the national homicide rate rose 15 per cent last year to its highest level since 2011.

That was primarily due to increases in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario.

On a per capita basis, Regina was the homicide capital of Canada with eight homicides in 2015, and data shows Saskatchewan had the highest homicide rate among the provinces.

Nighttime construction on Hwy 3 in Lethbridge starts April 17

Apr 17, 2025

SASHA launches #BuyABed fundraiser to support vulnerable Lethbridge residents

Apr 04, 2025

$20K grants available: TELUS STORYHIVE Pan-Asian Edition opens applications April 1

Mar 18, 2025

There were 43 homicides in Saskatchewan in 2015 — nearly double the number in 2014 — boosting the homicide rate to 3.79 per 100-thousand population.

Manitoba had the second-highest rate at 3.63 per 100-thousand people — up just slightly from 2014.

The number of homicides in Alberta increased by 27 to 133 — leaving it with the third highest rate at 3.17 per 100-thousand population.

The number of firearms-related homicides rose to 178 last year, which is the highest reported since 2010.

As has been the case for decades, homicides continue to be most frequently committed by someone known to the victim.

In 2015, 87 per cent of solved homicides were committed by a person who was known to the victim, up from 82 per cent in 2014.