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Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Take a bow, Quebec City...and please tell us how you're doing it!
![1127418039_8712[1].jpg](http://www.winnipegfreepress2.com/blogs/mcintyre/wp-content/uploads/2007121127418039_8712[1].thumbnail.jpg)
The police call it a combination of "exceptional circumstances and luck".I call it pretty darn impressive.As the calender closes on 2007, Quebec City has not recorded a single homicide. In fact, the last one was in October 2006.Let's hope all other major Canadian cities are taking notes here.My hometown of Winnipeg, which is fairly comparable in size, has already seen 26 people die at the hands of another this year.Much smaller cities such as Saskatoon (9), Regina (8) and Windsor (5) have seen bloodshed as well. And bigger cities such as Toronto (82), Montreal (39). Edmonton (33), Calgary (38) and Ottawa (14) continue to be home to large homicide rates.So what's been Quebec City's secret to success? As noted above, the police chalk it up to factors beyond their control and aren't ready to throw a parade, as these sorts of things can change in a heartbeat.Still, there's plenty of positive to take out of this.Quebec City has traditionally had one of the lowest violent crime rates in Canada, a sure sign they are doing something right that other Canadian cities are not.The easy answer is to say the people in Quebec City simply get along better and can resolve issues without resorting to violence.But it's clear that some of the long-standing social ills that lead to homicides in Canada - including fights over the drug trade, gang violence, alcohol abuse and domestic disputes - aren't as prevalant in Quebec City as they are elsewhere.I've never been a big believer that a homicide rate is a true indicator of how violent a city truly is, as most killings are between people who know each other and not random acts.Still, I can't help but be fascinated by what's happening in Quebec City and wonder why other cities can't follow a similar blueprint.Got a thought on this issue? Post it below.
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About Mike McIntyre
Journalist, national radio show host, author, pundit and cruise director ... Mike McIntyre loves to keep busy.
Mike is the justice reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press, where he has worked since 1997. He produces and hosts the weekly talk radio show Crime and Punishment, which runs on the Corus Radio Network in several Canadian cities.
Born and bred in Winnipeg, Mike graduated from River East Collegiate and completed his journalism studies in the Creative Communications program at Red River College.
He and his wife, Chassity, have two children.
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