Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo

Map retrieved from: http://www.shell.com/global/aboutshell/major-projects-2/athabasca/economy-community.html

Negative Media Coverage

“Alas, it's populated by skatepunks, itinerants and drug addicts. Fort McMurray is home to a thriving drug trade. Across from the civic centre is the dodgy oil Can Tavern; a stone's throw in the opposite direction is the Boomtown Casino, which draws a big crowd on Sundays.”

Preville, P. (2006, Oct.). Down & Dirty in Fort McMurray. Chatelaine.

Negative Media Coverage

“Unfortunately, just like the gold-rush towns of the 1800s, Fort McMurray – or Fort McMoney as it’s now known – has become synonymous with crime, an explosion in prostitution and the tough, young, bored single men with too much money and little to do, who are fuelling the chaos”

Hannaford, A. (2012). No country for young men. British GQ. London, United Kingdom.

Reported Crime Statistics

Maclean’s: 8th most dangerous city in Canada

Maclean’s: Among top 10 municipalities in Canada for various crime rates

Homicide Aggravated Assault Motor Vehicle Theft Impaired Driving

Population Growth

Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (2008). Envision Wood Buffalo: Towards 250K – Regional Report.

Population Data

Uniform Crime Report Survey

Actual incidents and rates per 100,000 population for the past 10 years (2003-2012)

Crime rates (per 100,000 population) 10-year trends

14 crime categories Offence groupings Specific offences

Total Criminal Code of Canada Violations (excluding traffic

offences)

Total Violent Criminal Code of Canada Violations

Total Property Criminal Code of Canada Violations

Homicide

Homicide Incidents

Impaired Driving

Cocaine

Prostitution

Conclusions

Using more accurate population data and 10-year trends produces a different depiction of crime in Wood Buffalo

Does not exhibit high rates of violent or property crime, nor many specific offences

Cocaine distribution and impaired driving are the only offences that are somewhat elevated