Photo: Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center · Public domainElectoral Area A, Nanaimo sees more crime per resident than 72% of Canadian towns
Measured on crime the police covering Electoral Area A, Nanaimo reported between 2023 and 2025, it earns a Safety Grade of C: #127 of 251 in British Columbia. Still, in 2023 the index stood at 91.2; it fell to 79.8 in 2025. Recorded violent incidents ran at 21.9 per 1,000 residents a year and property crime at 40.3, against 12.9 and 31.2 in the typical town its size. Violence accounts for an index of 109.6 and other offences for 78.8, against usual levels of 85.7 and 62.8.
Statistics Canada, police-reported crime, 2023–2025 means. The index weighs each crime by its seriousness; rates are incidents per 1,000 residents a year. Measured across the Ladysmith detachment area: crime severity, crime rate and incident counts.
What stands out about safety in Electoral Area A, Nanaimo
Mischief: high for a town its size
Electoral Area A, Nanaimo records 17.4 incidents of mischief per 1,000 residents a year, against 4.9 in the typical town among Canadian towns of 2,500 to 10,000 people. By type ↓
Higher than many towns its size
Of the 40 Canadian towns nearest it in size, Electoral Area A, Nanaimo places 32nd from the lowest index. Towns its size ↓
About the British Columbia norm
Electoral Area A, Nanaimo’s index of 87 compares with 83.2 for the typical town in British Columbia. Towns its size ↓
Written from Statistics Canada’s police-reported crime by police service and detachment, 2023–2025. Figures are what police recorded, not convictions.
What sits behind Electoral Area A, Nanaimo’s C
How sure: A less certain grade than most, because the figures belong to the nearest detachment, 12 km from Electoral Area A, Nanaimo, not to the town.
The grade weighs the Crime Severity Index and its violent half, averaged over 2023–2025, against every Canadian town and city neighbourhood of 1,000 people or more.
Its place: #127 of 251 in British Columbia and #1,785 of 2,572 Canadian towns.
The Crime Severity Index and its two halves, beside the typical figure for Canadian towns of 2,500 to 10,000 people.
Which crimes make up Electoral Area A, Nanaimo’s figures
Against the typical town its size, Electoral Area A, Nanaimo runs highest on mischief (17.4 per 1,000 against 4.9), assault (10.3 per 1,000 against 6.7) and break and enter (3.3 per 1,000 against 2.8). Theft under $5,000 sits below it.
Every Statistics Canada violation line
| Violation | Incidents a year | Per 1,000 | Cleared |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 0 | 0 | — |
| Sexual violations against children | 8 | 1.2 | 38% |
| Assaults against a peace officer | 1.7 | 0.2 | — |
| Firearms: use, discharge, pointing | 1.3 | 0.2 | — |
| Robbery | 0 | 0 | — |
| Forcible confinement or kidnapping | 1.7 | 0.2 | — |
| Other violent violations | 1.3 | 0.2 | — |
| Breaking and entering | 22.3 | 3.3 | 19% |
| Possession of stolen property | 8.7 | 1.3 | 34% |
| Theft of a motor vehicle | 19.7 | 2.9 | 5% |
| Theft over $5,000 | 4.7 | 0.7 | — |
| Theft under $5,000 | 63.3 | 9.4 | 9% |
| Mischief | 117.3 | 17.4 | 29% |
| Weapons violations | 5 | 0.7 | 54% |
| Administration of justice violations | 33.7 | 5 | 65% |
| Other Criminal Code violations | 16 | 2.4 | 44% |
| Drug violations | 3.7 | 0.5 | — |
| Impaired driving | 30.7 | 4.5 | 77% |
| Failing to stop or remain | 1 | 0.1 | — |
Statistics Canada’s violation groups for the whole police service or detachment, incidents a year its own. Cleared: incidents solved by a charge or otherwise, as a share of those reported.
Incidents per 1,000 residents a year, 2023–2025 means, against the typical figure for Canadian towns of 2,500 to 10,000 people.
Electoral Area A, Nanaimo is 32nd of 40 towns its size, lowest index first
| # | Town | People | Severity index | Violent index | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Otonabee-South Monaghan Ontario | 8,084 | 26 | 27.2 | A+ |
| … | |||||
| 21 | Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley British Columbia | 7,830 | 49.5 | 61.5 | B+ |
| … | |||||
| 29 | Kenora, Unorganized Ontario | 7,877 | 73.9 | 96.2 | C+ |
| 30 | Clare Nova Scotia | 8,020 | 79.7 | 93.8 | C |
| 31 | Kentville Nova Scotia | 7,589 | 82.9 | 90.6 | C |
| 32 | Electoral Area A, Nanaimo British Columbia | 7,825 | 87 | 109.6 | C |
| 33 | Parry Sound Ontario | 7,584 | 92.2 | 121.3 | C |
| 34 | Westlock County Alberta | 7,556 | 129.8 | 116.4 | D |
| 35 | Brazeau County Alberta | 7,685 | 130 | 92.3 | D |
| … | |||||
| 40 | Drayton Valley Alberta | 8,047 | 152.4 | 156.3 | D |
The 40 Canadian towns of 2,500+ people closest in population; city neighbourhoods, city totals and reserves are left out. Towns on one police service or detachment share its index.
The Canadian towns closest to Electoral Area A, Nanaimo in population, the lowest Crime Severity Index first (2023–2025 means).
Electoral Area A, Nanaimo, year by year
Crime Severity Index
From 91.2 in 2023, its first and heaviest year, it eased to a low of 79.8 in 2025. For the typical Canadian town its size, 2023 gave 74.3 and 2025 gave 64.2.
Every year as a table
| Year | Electoral Area A, Nanaimo | Typical town its size |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 79.8 | 64.2 |
| 2024 | 90.1 | 68.8 |
| 2023 | 91.2 | 74.3 |
Statistics Canada, Crime Severity Index by police service, each year as published. Typical: the median of Canadian towns of 2,500 to 10,000 people.
The Crime Severity Index of the police covering Electoral Area A, Nanaimo, each year, against the typical Canadian town its size.
About 150 violent incidents a year in the area of the detachment nearest Electoral Area A, Nanaimo (6,780 residents), 2023–2025
Violent incidents per 1,000 a year, 2023–2025
Property crimes per 1,000 a year, 2023–2025
Statistics Canada counts actual incidents; those police record as unfounded are listed apart and kept out of its crime rates and severity index. Each incident is filed under its most serious violation, which the survey sets partly by the maximum penalty.
And about 270 property crimes, plus 160 other violations, a year (2023–2025 average). Each dot is one resident; each coloured dot, one incident a year at the area’s rates.
Crime in the places around Electoral Area A, Nanaimo
| Town | People | Severity index | Violent index | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electoral Area A, Nanaimo | 7,825 | 87 | 109.6 | C |
| Electoral Area H, Cowichan Valley | 2,761 | 87 | 109.6 | C |
| Electoral Area B, Nanaimo | 4,702 | 58.9 | 58.4 | B− |
| Ladysmith | 9,926 | 77.3 | 70.2 | C+ |
| Nanaimo | 111,845 | 121.6 | 127.7 | D |
| Electoral Area C, Nanaimo | 3,733 | 58.9 | 58.4 | B− |
| Electoral Area G, Cowichan Valley | 2,597 | 87 | 109.6 | C |
Electoral Area A, Nanaimo sits above 3 of the 4 neighbours with figures of their own. Electoral Area B, Nanaimo, 9.5 km away, is the nearest lower one, at 58.9 to 87. 2 neighbours report through the same police, so their figure is this one and they aren’t compared.
Each place’s police figures, 2023–2025 means.
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Solved cases. The clearance rate is the share of incidents police solve, by a charge or otherwise, weighted by seriousness like the index. It isn’t a conviction rate.
- How serious, not how safe. The index weighs crimes rather than counting them: a serious offence moves it far more than a minor one. Statistics Canada is plain about its limits: “The CSI is not an indicator of overall safety and should be interpreted in the broader community context.”
- Reading the number. Canada’s own index has been below its 2006 base of 100 for years, so 100 marks a fixed reference, not today’s national average.
Questions about safety in Electoral Area A, Nanaimo
Is Electoral Area A, Nanaimo safe?
Electoral Area A, Nanaimo measures 87 on the Crime Severity Index for 2023–2025, next to 68.5 for Canadian towns of 2,500 to 10,000 people. Per 1,000 residents a year, its police record 21.9 violent incidents and 40.3 property crimes.
What is the most common crime in Electoral Area A, Nanaimo?
Police record mischief most, 17.4 per 1,000 residents a year, ahead of other Criminal Code offences (13.9) and assault (10.3).
Is crime going up in Electoral Area A, Nanaimo?
It went down 13% between 2023 and 2025, from 91.2 to 79.8.
How much of Electoral Area A, Nanaimo’s crime do police solve?
Weighted by seriousness, police cleared 34% of crime (51% of violent crime, 24% of the rest). The typical Canadian town its size clears 34%.
Whose figures are these?
A shared service or detachment’s, reported as one for Electoral Area A, Nanaimo and everywhere else it polices.
Source: Statistics Canada, police-reported crime by police service and detachment, 2023–2025 (Statistics Canada Open Licence); TownRatings calculation.
Sources: Statistics Canada, Crime severity index and weighted clearance rates, police services (tables 35-10-0186 to 0190, 0061, 0063, 0064), 2023–2025 · Statistics Canada, Incident-based crime statistics by detailed violations, police services (35-10-0178 to 0185) · Safety Grade: TownRatings calculation. Under the Statistics Canada Open Licence.
Adapted from Statistics Canada (Census of Population 2021, population estimates 2025, 2021 census boundaries) under the Statistics Canada Open Licence; this does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada. Neighbourhood names in some cities © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).