Across Canada, conversations about urban safety have become louder and more urgent, and several mid-sized cities have found themselves in the spotlight. Winnipeg, Kamloops, Thunder Bay, Kelowna, Nanaimo, Saskatoon and Regina are often cited in headlines and social media threads as places to avoid in 2026 because of crime. The reality on the ground, however, is far more nuanced. While some communities are grappling with serious and persistent issues, others are seeing improvements that rarely make it beyond local news. For travellers planning Canadian itineraries, understanding this complexity is essential to making informed choices rather than reacting to alarmist narratives.
Crime Rankings, Perceptions and the 2026 Travel Narrative
Crime data in Canada is typically reported through two key measures: the overall crime rate and the Crime Severity Index, which weighs offences based on their seriousness. Nationally, Statistics Canada reported a decline in both crime rate and crime severity in 2024 compared to 2023, the first such drop in several years. Over a longer timeframe, however, both measures remain higher than a decade ago, indicating that certain types of serious crime have become more prominent even as some common offences have fallen.
In British Columbia, provincial figures show a 7 percent fall in the overall crime rate and an 11 percent reduction in the Crime Severity Index in 2024. Major centres largely followed this pattern, though from very different starting points. While some cities were previously among the worst in the country and are now trending downward, others have seen renewed spikes in violent incidents, particularly around downtown cores and nightlife districts.
Perceptions of safety often lag behind or move independently of the statistics. Surveys in some cities show residents feeling less safe even as police-reported crime trends down. This disconnect matters because it shapes a city’s reputation among travellers. Stories of shoplifting surges, open drug use, property crime, or high-profile violent incidents tend to spread quickly and can produce a broad-brush impression that a destination is in chaos, even when problems are concentrated in a few neighbourhoods or are already being addressed.
For visitors, the takeaway is not that Canadian cities are uniformly unsafe, but that conditions are evolving and local context is critical. It is increasingly important in 2026 to look beyond national averages and social media snapshots, and to pay attention to what is happening in specific districts, at certain times of day, and on particular transit or nightlife corridors.
Winnipeg: High Violent Crime, Careful Travel Planning Required
Winnipeg remains one of the Canadian cities most frequently cited when discussions turn to violent crime. Police statistics show that the city’s violent Crime Severity Index remained among the highest in the country as of 2023. In 2024, the index recorded a meaningful drop of about five percent, and total reported crime declined for a second straight year. Local officials have been careful to stress that this is a positive trend rather than a transformation. Overall crime is still above the recent five year average, and residents in some neighbourhoods continue to report regular incidents of violence, property damage and social disorder.
For travellers, this combination of modest improvement and persistently elevated risk means Winnipeg demands situational awareness rather than avoidance. Downtown, the Exchange District and key cultural venues draw visitors for festivals, museums and sports, but they also intersect with areas that see higher rates of assaults, robberies and public intoxication, particularly late at night. Transit hubs and some inner city streets can feel markedly different after dark than during business hours.
Hotel districts and major attractions do not need to be written off, but they do benefit from classic big city travel habits. That includes using registered taxis or ride hail at night instead of walking long distances, avoiding isolated shortcuts, and staying alert around ATMs, bus stops and crowded events. Winnipeg authorities have expanded community policing, outreach and social services responses in an attempt to address underlying issues around addiction, homelessness and youth crime, yet these efforts will take time to fully shift the daily experience on the streets.
Travellers weighing Winnipeg in 2026 should recognise that the city is not a war zone, nor is it an entirely carefree destination. Those who plan carefully, choose central accommodation, and stay plugged into local advisories can still enjoy its historic architecture, cultural festivals and riverfront parks, but this is not a place to wander absentmindedly at night or leave valuables unattended in vehicles.
Kamloops and Kelowna: From Crime Headlines to Gradual Improvement
In British Columbia’s Interior, Kamloops and Kelowna have spent several years at the centre of national debates on crime. Kamloops recorded the highest police reported crime rate among Canada’s census metropolitan areas in 2023, edging out Kelowna, which held that unwelcome distinction in 2021 and 2022. That ranking drew a surge of attention and painted both communities as places to avoid, particularly for road trippers and outdoor enthusiasts imagining crime spilling from downtown streets into campgrounds and lakefront parks.
Recent data tells a more complicated story. New figures released in 2025 show Kamloops’ crime rate falling by roughly 19 percent in 2024, with its Crime Severity Index dropping more than 20 percent. Kelowna also recorded a decline, though smaller, with crime down around 5 to 9 percent depending on the measure. The local RCMP in Kelowna has highlighted consecutive years of reduced property crime, including sizeable drops in business break and enters and bike theft compared with 2022, a year when the region’s statistics were among the worst in the country.
Despite this progress, both cities still sit above provincial averages, and calls for police service per capita remain high in Kelowna. That reflects not only criminal activity but also the reality that these are fast growing regional hubs with complex social pressures, from housing shortages and visible homelessness to substance use in public spaces. Visitors arriving with the impression that crime is spiralling out of control may be surprised by how ordinary most neighbourhoods feel, yet pockets of disorder are evident along some commercial corridors and near shelter and service clusters.
In practical terms, Kamloops and Kelowna in 2026 are not cities that travellers must strike from their itineraries, but they are places where complacency can be costly. Late night bar districts, certain downtown blocks and unsecured parking areas have been repeated hotspots for incidents. Outdoor recreation remains a major draw, and many trailheads, wineries and lakeside parks are far removed from any significant crime pattern. The key for visitors is to separate online alarm from on the ground reality, stay inside the better lit, busier areas at night, and take vehicle and accommodation security seriously.
Thunder Bay: A Persistent Violent Crime Outlier
Thunder Bay, on the north shore of Lake Superior, stands out in recent national statistics for violent crime. A 2025 analysis of 2024 data found that the city posted the highest violent Crime Severity Index of any major Canadian centre, more than double the national average. This was not a one off spike. Thunder Bay has topped or neared the top of national violent crime rankings several times in the last decade, reflecting deep rooted challenges around organized crime, substance use, intergenerational trauma and social inequities affecting Indigenous communities.
While other cities have seen improvements in recent years, Thunder Bay’s violent crime index rose again between 2023 and 2024. Local reports describe meaningful efforts by police and community groups to intervene, but homicides, serious assaults and weapons offences remain a real concern. Public debates have focused on how to rebuild trust in policing and institutions while also addressing systemic issues in housing, health and employment that feed into high crime rates.
For travellers, Thunder Bay’s crime profile should be taken seriously. The city remains a gateway for wilderness trips and cross country drives, and many stays are brief, centred on the waterfront, university area or highway side hotels. Most visitors will never encounter violence. However, certain residential and downtown areas record elevated rates of assaults and robberies, particularly late at night and on weekends. The city’s small size can create a deceptive sense of security that is not always matched by the statistics.
Visitors in 2026 should exercise heightened caution: avoid walking alone at night in poorly lit or unfamiliar districts, be selective about nightlife venues, and remain aware that intoxication, both public and private, can be a significant risk factor for becoming a victim of crime. Those planning extended stays or off season visits would be wise to consult up to date local guidance on neighbourhood conditions rather than relying on reputation alone, whether positive or negative.
Prairie Centres: Saskatoon and Regina Under the Microscope
Saskatoon and Regina, the major urban anchors in Saskatchewan, have long wrestled with crime rates above the Canadian average, particularly for violent offences and property crime. Over the past decade, both cities have appeared frequently in national comparisons, and public concern has focused on gang related activity, vehicle theft, break ins and assaults linked to the drug trade and social disorder around core neighbourhoods.
Recent years have brought mixed signals. Some categories of crime have moderated, while others, including serious assaults and robbery, have remained stubbornly high or fluctuated from year to year. Police services in both cities have spoken of targeting repeat offenders and increasing presence in known hotspots. Community organisations have pressed for stronger investment in prevention, mental health supports and housing, arguing that reactive policing alone cannot resolve the underlying issues that keep crime indicators elevated.
Travellers evaluating Saskatoon and Regina in 2026 should recognise that these are active, lived in cities with vibrant riverfronts, festivals and emerging food scenes, not urban no go zones. For most visitors, experiences are concentrated in well trafficked areas around downtowns, university districts and major event venues. Daytime exploration along established routes is generally comfortable, with locals and tourists sharing public spaces.
However, these are not destinations where it is wise to treat the entire city as uniformly safe. Certain inner city neighbourhoods experience disproportionately high rates of crime, and some transit stops and parking lots have seen recurring incidents. Visitors can reduce risk by staying in central, well reviewed accommodation, avoiding wandering into unfamiliar residential districts at night, and relying on taxis or rideshare after late events. In short, caution is warranted, but blanket avoidance is neither necessary nor reflective of how residents themselves use and enjoy their cities.
Smaller Coastal and Regional Cities: Nanaimo and Others
Beyond the better known mid sized centres, smaller cities such as Nanaimo on Vancouver Island have also entered national discussions about crime and safety. Nanaimo has struggled with visible homelessness, public drug use and property crime in its downtown and waterfront fringes. Retailers and residents have reported shoplifting, vandalism and confrontations that contribute to a sense of unease, even if the overall crime trajectory has not matched the worst spikes seen in larger centres.
Local authorities in Nanaimo and similar regional cities have been grappling with how to balance enforcement with social supports. Business improvement associations have called for more consistent street level presence and stronger responses to repeat offenders, while outreach teams and non profit organisations stress the need to address addiction, mental health and housing precarity that lie beneath much of the daily disorder. For visitors, the result can be a jarring contrast between postcard ready harbour views and nearby streets where social challenges are plainly visible.
In travel terms, Nanaimo in 2026 remains a functioning ferry hub and launching point for island exploration rather than a destination in full crisis. Most incidents affecting visitors involve thefts from vehicles, smash and grabs or opportunistic pickpocketing rather than targeted violent crime. The risk is real but manageable with prudent behaviour. Parking in secure, well lit areas, keeping valuables out of sight, and staying on the busier main routes between terminals, hotels and restaurants significantly reduces the likelihood of problems.
Other regional cities referenced in travel warning lists often share similar patterns. They may have downtown blocks that feel edgy or uncomfortable, especially late at night, but they also feature quiet residential districts and recreational areas where residents go about daily life with little interruption. Understanding that contrast helps travellers calibrate their expectations and personal safety strategies more accurately.
Travelling Smart in 2026: Context over Clickbait
The narrative that Winnipeg, Kamloops, Thunder Bay, Kelowna, Nanaimo, Saskatoon, Regina and other Canadian cities should be avoided entirely in 2026 is not supported by a close reading of current data and local reporting. Some of these communities have recorded genuine and worrying spikes in particular types of crime, especially violence. Others are experiencing gradual yet significant improvements after several bad years. In every case, there are neighbourhoods and situations that carry higher risk, and others that remain broadly safe for residents and visitors alike.
For travellers, the most useful mindset is to treat these cities as complex places rather than single statistics. That means looking at when and where problems are concentrated, and tailoring itineraries accordingly. Daytime visits to museums, markets, riverfronts and parks are generally lower risk, particularly when you stay in busier, central areas. Nightlife districts, isolated side streets, poorly lit waterfronts and industrial zones are often where crime and social disorder are more visible, and thus where additional caution is warranted.
It is also wise to stay up to date. Crime conditions can shift within a couple of years, and 2024 and 2025 have already shown that some of the Canadian cities previously at the top of national crime rankings are now on a modest downward trajectory. Ahead of travel, consulting recent local news and official police or city updates provides a far clearer picture than relying on dated rankings or sensational social media posts. In 2026, as in any year, informed decision making is the traveller’s best defence.
Ultimately, Canada’s mid sized cities are at an inflection point. The pressures of housing costs, addiction crises and social inequality are colliding with renewed investments in policing, prevention and community resilience. Travellers who recognise both the risks and the reforms, and who approach these destinations with awareness rather than fear, are best positioned to navigate them safely. The choice is not between carefree tourism and total avoidance, but between arriving unprepared and arriving informed.