File photo of a Lethbridge Police Service Vehicle. The 2022 firearms and violent crimes rate in Canada is the highest since comparable data was first studied in 2009. (Photo: LNN)

By Joel Mendelson

Firearm and violent crimes soar in 2022 across Canada

Jan 31, 2024 | 10:25 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – In 2022, just under three per cent of police-reported crimes in Canada involved a firearm.

That’s according to figures from Statistics Canada.

This equates to approximately 14,000 crimes, which corresponds to a rate of 36.7 firearm-related violent crimes per 100,000 population, which is an increase of 8.9 per cent from the year prior.

The 2022 rate is the highest since comparable data was first studied in 2009.

Alberta saw an increase of nearly 200 firearm-related crimes in 2022. In the province, there were 2,481 firearm-related violent crimes in 2022. The majority of the offences occurred in southern urban areas, followed by northern rural areas, southern rural areas, and lastly northern urban areas.

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

The most substantial increase was seen in southern urban areas, with an 8.5 per cent raise from 2021 to 2022.

In Lethbridge, the rate of firearm-related violent crimes decreased by 14.8 per cent, which is the fifth largest decrease of the 33 cities measured by Statistics Canada.

In 2022, the rate increased by 22 per cent in Edmonton and by 5.1 per cent in Calgary.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now.

—

If you have a news tip, question or concern, please email Lethbridge.newsroom@Pattisonmedia.com.

For local news delivered daily to your email inbox, subscribe for free to the Lethbridge News Now newsletter here. You can also download the Lethbridge News Now mobile app in the Google Play and the Apple App Stores.