City sees sharp rise while national figures fall
Thunder Bay’s police-reported crime rate climbed sharply in 2025, increasing 18 per cent from the year before — the largest rise among Canada’s census metropolitan areas, according to newly released Statistics Canada figures.
The data put Thunder Bay’s Crime Severity Index (CSI) at 114.1 for 2025 and the city’s reported crime rate at 8,373 incidents per 100,000 people. Those numbers stand in contrast with the national trend: Canada’s overall CSI fell 5 per cent to 75.0, and the national conventional crime rate declined by 2 per cent.
"Crime is on the upswing, and often to many people the Thunder Bay Police are overwhelmed at times leading to longer response times."
The Statistics Canada release shows Thunder Bay’s CSI is about 52 per cent higher than the national figure and roughly double the provincial CSI of 57.2. Thunder Bay’s conventional crime rate is almost 95 per cent higher than Ontario’s rate of 4,296 incidents per 100,000.
Where Thunder Bay stands nationally
Among the metropolitan areas included in the report, only three recorded a higher overall CSI: Chilliwack (134.3), Kamloops (126.2) and Red Deer (114.4). Thunder Bay, with a CSI of 114.1, ranked fourth. In conventional crime rate comparisons, several smaller B.C. cities recorded higher rates than Thunder Bay.
| Metric | Thunder Bay (2025) | Canada (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Crime Severity Index | 114.1 | 75.0 |
| Crime rate (per 100,000) | 8,373 | 5,585 |
Local implications and community concerns
For residents, the numbers underline persistent public-safety concerns that often surface in community meetings and local media coverage. A rising crime rate can influence everything from business confidence and tourism to neighbourhood perceptions and municipal budgeting for policing and prevention programs.
- Police operations: A sudden increase in reported incidents can strain resources and affect response times.
- Public confidence: Comparisons with provincial and national rates may heighten anxieties among residents and local businesses.
- Policy priorities: City leaders and social-service providers may face renewed pressure to address root causes and prevention.
The Statistics Canada release reports that Thunder Bay’s overall CSI rose 3 per cent between 2024 and 2025, while the conventional crime rate rose more substantially. Other census metropolitan areas showed mixed results: some recorded declines in both CSI and crime rate even as their absolute numbers remained high.
What to watch next
Officials at the municipal and policing level typically review detailed datasets to identify which categories of crime account for the change and where incidents are concentrated. That breakdown — for example, whether the rise is driven by property crimes, violent offences or other categories — will be important for shaping local responses and targeting resources.
Community groups, social-service agencies and law-enforcement partners will likely press for further transparency and for collaborative approaches that combine enforcement with prevention and supports. For residents looking for immediate information, the city and Thunder Bay Police Service are the primary sources for neighbourhood-level alerts, safety tips and updates on prevention initiatives.
The Statistics Canada figures provide a snapshot of 2025 that many in Thunder Bay will find unsettling; they also establish a baseline for the coming year as civic leaders, police and communities consider how best to respond.
