Markham ranked 2nd safest city in Canada: report

Numbeo ranking latest in string of awards recognizing city's fiscal management, tech innovation and community events

Yorkregion.com
June 7, 2021
Heidi Reidner

Markham is the second safest city in Canada, according to a website that compares cities around the globe.

Numbeo ranked Markham second behind Quebec City on its top 10 list released in June based on a crime index of 22.22 and safety index of 77.78.

By comparison, Quebec City, which topped the list, came in with a crime index of 14.98 and safety index of 85.02.

Being seen as safe is one of nine equally weighted attributes used to develop the quality of life sub-ranking in the report based on a study that surveyed more than 20,000 citizens to assess perceptions of 73 countries on 65 different metrics.

Factors such as walking during daylight and during night, worries of being mugged or robbed, worries of physical attacks or drug problems were used to compare crime levels and crime types by city.

Perceptions about the problem of property and violent crimes were also factored in to the ranking.

Other cities that made the top 10, in descending order, include Burlington, Ottawa, Oakville, Montreal, Guelph, Victoria, Calgary and Windsor.

The safest city ranking is the latest recognition and award for Markham.

Highlights since the beginning of the year include been named one of the world’s Smart21 Communities of 2021 by the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF), earning an “A” rating from the C.D. Howe Institute for budgeting and financial reporting and being named one of Canada’s Best Employers for 2021 by Forbes Magazine achieving the highest-ranking municipal employer in all of Canada to be named to the list and 18th overall.

The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) also recognized the City of Markham with two prestigious awards in March -- the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, for the 20th consecutive year, and the Canadian Award for Financial Reporting, for the 19th consecutive year.
The Distinguished Budget Presentation Award recognized Markham’s 2020 budget, and the Canadian Award for Financial Reporting recognized Markham’s annual financial report for the year ending Dec. 31, 2019.

The city was also commended for pivoting under challenging times to provide unique and meaningful opportunities for the community.

Three celebrations were honoured for being able to “adapt, pivot and evolve” in response to COVID-19 during this year’s Festival and Events Ontario 2021 Achievement Awards.

Markham’s Virtual National Indigenous People’s Day, Virtual Canada Day Celebration and Virtual 2020 Markham-Milliken Children’s Festival were honoured.