Manitoba is the deadliest province in Canada, according to a Statistics Canada report released Thursday.

There were 62 homicides in Manitoba last year — the highest number since data were first collected in 1961, and up from 39 killings in 2006.

On a per-capita basis, Manitoba recorded the highest homicide rate of all the provinces, at 5.22 per 100,000, almost double the rates of second-place Saskatchewan and third-place Alberta.

Among major cities, Winnipeg led with 3.55 homicides per 100,000 people.

Edmonton was second at 3.28 and Calgary was third at 3.14.

Five of Winnipeg's homicides were committed with firearms, and five were gang-related, according to Statistics Canada.

Nationally, police reported 594 homicides in Canada in 2007, 12 fewer than in 2006, and a rate of 1.8 per 100,000.

Stabbings accounted for one-third of the homicides in 2007 and another third involved the use of a firearm. Handguns were used in two-thirds of all firearm homicides, primarily in urban areas.

Police reported that one in five homicides was gang-related.

Male homicide victims were most likely to be killed by an acquaintance, someone known to them through a criminal relationship or a stranger. In contrast, female homicide victims were most frequently killed by a current or former intimate partner, or other family member.

With files from the Canadian Press