Western and eastern areas

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The preceding maps show that there are more crimes reported west of the South Saskatchewan River than east of it. This contrast between the east and west sides was previously observed by Kitchen (2006) and acknowledged by several community representatives (Wilkie and Berdahl, 2007). The situation is explained in part by the spatial distribution of the population at risk. Although the number of residents on either side of the river was about equal, the western sector included 26,000 more workers than the eastern sector (Table 2).

Nevertheless, crimes are proportionality much higher in the city's western sector. In fact, the population at risk was 18% greater in the west, while there were 141% more crimes. There were more of all types of crimes in the city's western sector, with the ratio climbing from double the number of incidents of mischief to six-times the number of robberies.

The overall crime rate was twice as high west of the river (94 incidents per 1,000 residents and workers) as it was east of the river (46 incidents per 1,000 residents and workers). Violent crime incidents were especially over-represented, assaults and robberies in particular. In addition, all incidents of homicide and almost all incidents of prostitution were reported in the western sector.

In addition to the differences in the distribution of crime between the eastern and western sectors of the city, there are differences in the dwelling characteristics as well as in the socio-economic and demographic characteristics in the two areas. For example, neighbourhoods in the western sector contained a smaller proportion of dwellings built after 1990 and the percentage of dwellings requiring major repairs was higher. These characteristics are probably reflected in the fact that the average property value in the western area was more than $27,000 less (Table 3).

In addition, a larger number of western sector residents were part of a lone-parent family, a low-income family or a household not occupied by the owner. They were also less likely to have obtained a university degree and more likely to have never finished high school. Furthermore, their economic situation was also less favourable: the unemployment rate there was higher and the average employment income was lower by $6,500. Also, the proportion of Aboriginal people was three times higher in the city's western area, where they made up 15% of the population.

The western area has many more jobs than the eastern part. The surplus is found mainly in manufacturing-type jobs (construction, manufacturing, transportation and warehousing), wholesale trade, public administration and other services, which, combined, accounted for 90% of the job discrepancy. Jobs in the retail trade, health care, social assistance and educational services sectors were more evenly distributed on both sides of the river.