This paper analyzes the evolving landscape of gang violence in Canada, identifying four primary gang types—street gangs, outlaw motorcycle gangs, organized crime organizations, and hate gangs—and explores key drivers of increased gang activity including rising youth membership, female participation, and firearm availability. The paper examines prevalent gang-related crimes such as extortion, intimidation, and assault, and highlights the disproportionate involvement of aboriginal populations in both gang membership and the criminal justice system. Through analysis of trends from 2005 to 2010, the paper demonstrates how police and community intervention efforts continue to shape gang dynamics, while suggesting that prevention programs and public awareness remain essential to addressing gang violence in Canadian communities.
Though gang violence is not a new phenomenon in Canada, the number of gangs and the dynamics within these gangs have changed significantly. Four primary types of gangs operate within Canadian provinces: street gangs, outlaw motorcycle gangs, mafias and organized crime organizations, and hate gangs. The rise in gang activity and violence in Canada has been fueled by increasing gang membership, the rising participation of girls in gangs, elevated gun violence, and the emergence of aboriginal gangs as prominent players in the criminal landscape.
Most gang-related crimes center on creating an atmosphere of fear within communities. The most prevalent gang-related crimes include extortion, intimidation, and assault. Other destructive gang activities encompass defacement of property, impediments to population movement, intimidation of local businesses, community fear and anxiety, and the general destruction of community life.
Youth-based street gangs commit the most violent street crimes. Gang violence is typically perpetrated between competing groups and is commonly used to mark a gang's territory within a community. One particularly brutal tactic is "swarming," where a group attacks an individual to steal items as simple as a jacket or shoes. The inclusion of girls in gangs has led to a notable increase in gang-related violence within communities. Police and school officials have increasingly reported rises in "female-perpetrated" crime and violence in schools, with girls often targeting other girls.
An increase in gang violence has been significantly aided by the rising availability of weapons within communities. Most guns used in gang-related criminal activity are handguns, the majority of which have been smuggled from the United States or diverted from legal owners through illegal sales or thefts. Most firearms used to commit crimes were not recovered, and 63 percent of the guns used in gang crimes originated from the U.S. This escalation is reflected in homicide statistics: in Canada in 2008, 1 in 4 homicides committed were gang-related, representing a 9 percent increase from the 16 percent rate recorded in 2005. The connection between firearm access and gang violence underscores the transnational nature of gang-related crime.
Though gang violence is not exclusive to aboriginal gangs, violence and crime committed by aboriginal gang members has risen sharply in recent years. Aboriginal gangs in Canada have gained prominence in media coverage due to their involvement in violent shootings and slayings, as well as their participation in the 2009 Vancouver gang war. These gangs typically engage in drug distribution, prostitution, and theft. At a recent conference, experts predicted that aboriginal youth gang membership would double within the next decade.
The overrepresentation of aboriginal peoples in the Canadian criminal justice system is striking. Though aborigines comprise only 2.8 percent of the Canadian population, they account for 18 percent of those incarcerated in federal penitentiaries—a figure that rises to 50 percent in the prairie provinces. This disparity reflects both systemic factors and the specific challenges facing aboriginal youth in gang-prone communities.
Gang dynamics are continuously changing, and even though certain gangs may be considered more dangerous than others, much gang presence in communities continues to decline and change through police and community efforts, and unfortunately through increased competition by rival gangs. Though gang violence cannot be completely eradicated in Canada, steps and programs can be introduced to youths to help deter them from joining gangs and to raise awareness of gang activity in the community and what preventive measures can be taken to reduce criminal activity. Community-based prevention initiatives and public education remain essential components of any comprehensive strategy to address gang violence in Canadian society.
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