STATISTICS SHOW MISSISSAUGA IS CANADA'S SAFEST CITY

MISSISSAUGA, ON- In a joint news conference held at Mississauga's Civic Centre tonight, Mayor Hazel McCallion and Peel Police Chief Noel Catney announced that according to comparative crime statistics, Mississauga is Canada's safest city.

"This is a proud day for me as Mayor of this great city," said Mayor McCallion. "In a world where crime rates continue to rise, citizens of Mississauga can know they are living in the safest community in the nation."

The statistics show that Mississauga is the safest of all large cities when compared to other communities of similar or larger population. Mississauga was compared to eight cities in Canada including Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Vancouver, Ottawa and Hamilton. The cities' 1999 criminal code offences which includes crimes versus persons and crimes versus property were used to determine the comparative crime statistics. In 1999, Mississauga's total crime rate stood at 4,464 occurrences per hundred thousand people.

The data was compiled by the Mississauga Crime Prevention Association (MCPA), a community-driven, not-for-profit charitable association. The Association works in partnership with the City of Mississauga, Peel Regional Police, Peel District School Board, Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, Mississauga Board of Trade, and the Mayor's Youth Advisory Committee to deliver pro-active crime prevention programs. These programs include: Neighbourhood Watch, Block Parents, Counter Act, Business Crime Watch and the Community Alert System.

"A safe place to live and work is a basic expectation for all citizens," said MCPA Chair Dorothy Thomson. "Mississauga is Canada's seventh largest city and despite enormous growth over the past ten years, we are pleased to be able to say that Mississauga is the safest Canadian city in which to live, work and play." She added that although this is a great achievement, it is MCPA's goal to keep Mississauga the safest community in Canada through continued education and crime prevention activities.

The MCPA organized the news conference as part of its annual general meeting and conference.

For additional information, please contact MCPA Executive Director Fred Chorley, at 905-803-8118.

Contact: Sonja Banic
Manager, Public Affairs
(905) 896-5052
sonja.banic@city.mississauga.on.ca