Data released Wednesday by Statistics Canada shows a drop in gang-related homicides across the country, with the biggest decrease in B.C.
Gang-related homicides declined nationally in 2018 for the first time in four years, with 15 fewer deaths than in 2017.
In B.C., gang homicides dipped by 12 to 33 deaths from 2017 – the biggest drop in the country. Eight fewer killings were reported in Alberta, six fewer in Manitoba, and two fewer in the Yukon.
Those decreases were offset by spikes in gang-related homicides in Quebec, and a slight increase in Ontario.
In B.C., the downturn was mostly attributable to Kelowna, which dropped from three to zero such deaths and Abbotsford-Mission, which fell from six to four.
Greater Vancouver’s count was steady at 20 gang-related homicides.
Only cities with a population of more than 100,000 were included.
READ MORE: Abbotsford, Mission could see a year free from gang-linked homicides
