Safety In Edmonton and Other Warnings And Dangers

Warnings and Dangers in Edmonton: Safety in Edmonton

Edmonton has a notoriously bad reputation as the homicide capital of Canada and overall a dangerous place. Most large cities have a bad reputation to some degree or another, think of New York City, Los Angeles or even European cities such as Paris or Barcelona. The fact is that cities often have crime, homelessness and drug problems.

However, many of the reports of problems in Edmonton are exaggerated, and both travelers and residents of the city maintain that overall it is a safe city.

Keeping Yourself Safe In Edmonton

As with any city, it’s best to keep your wits about you. Common sense is your best defense. Learn a little about the area prior to visiting. For example, there are some neighborhoods that are advisable to avoid at night, such as Colosseum and Abbotsfield as well as Millwoods. If you do find that you must visit these areas, just be aware of your surroundings, don’t linger and try not to be alone.

With that said, you shouldn’t have too many problems in most areas of the city. While violent crimes do happen, they are most often crimes against other criminals and gangs.

Beggars And Petty Theft

For tourists and visitors, this is probably the biggest issue. Theft of belongings and aggressive beggars are your most likely problems. It’s best to leave valuables at home. Use common sense and don’t walk around flashing jewelry, money or electronics. Ignore people trying to scam you or get money from you. Attend to your business and don’t linger.

The smartest thing is not to make yourself a target. If you find yourself in an undesirable neighborhood, it’s best to stay aware, don’t attract attention and don’t engage with anyone. Again, most crimes are not committed against tourists or innocent bystanders, they are committed among the criminal element. If you exercise caution you will find that you don’t have any problems.

Keep in mind that much of the problem is blown out of proportion. Edmonton is a large city and has its problems. There are plenty of nice people here, families and law-abiding citizens. There is no reason for you to be paranoid or have a bad time because of a bad reputation.

Editor’s Note: The information on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about safety in Edmonton.