Waterloo region has highest rate of police-reported hate crimes in Canada. What police, advocates are saying [Video]

New Statistics Canada data indicates Waterloo region in southern Ontario had the highest rate of police-reported hate crimes in the country in 2023, prompting police and advocates to call for urgent action to deter hateful behaviour.

Responding to the federal agency’s findings, including that Waterloo region reported 34 hate crimes per 100,000 people last year, Chief Mark Crowell of the Waterloo Regional Police Service said it “causes great concern for us.” He also noted the numbers are also up at both the provincial and national levels.

Crowell said the hate-crime findings put the region “ahead of communities like Calgary [and] Edmonton.”

“Also, we had the highest rate per 100,000 citizens, so it’s of great concern and we’ve got some good things happening, but there’s a lot of work ahead of us.”