Prince George deemed Canada's most dangerous city
Prince George officials upset at magazine's ranking for 2nd year in a row
CBC News
Posted: Dec 14, 2011 7:41 PM PT
Last Updated: Dec 15, 2011 3:01 PM PT
A disabled woman who was seriously burned in a Prince George, B.C., arson in November 2010 is among the crime statistics that earned the city its 'most dangerous' ranking. (Betsy Trumpener/CBC)
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Prince George, B.C., has once again been named Canada's “most dangerous city," and the label isn't sitting well with local leaders.
It’s the second consecutive year that Maclean’s magazine, which released its latest rankings Thursday, has awarded the northern B.C. city with the ignoble distinction.
The finding is based on population and crime statistics from 2010, when Prince George had seven homicides, four aggravated sexual assaults and 343 other assaults.
The city is also known for its gang activity and is at the heart of Highway 16, the province’s infamous “Highway of Tears,” where several women have gone missing.
But RCMP Supt. Eric Stubbs defends the city's reputation.
"Is this a safe community or isn't this? Tell you what — I wouldn't bring my family here if I didn't think so," said Stubbs.
Prince George's newly elected mayor, Shari Green, is planning more programs for youth in her city as part of work to lower crime statistics.
"The city will also continue to focus on supporting programs that educate youth and different community programs that keep kids away from drugs and gang activity," said Green.
Prince George might not have to suffer a third consecutive No. 1 ranking. There have been three aggravated sexual assaults but no homicides so far in 2011.
With files from the CBC's George BakerShare Tools
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