Is Toronto really the safest metropolitan city in North America?

[Mhundred]

That is indeed true and it should be notable for it being a freak occurrence. However what happens whenever a story like this appears as it did about 7 years ago in a similar shooting. All of a sudden it goes from being a tragic freak occurrence to "the city being plagued by violence".

Media sensationalism.

[Acajack]

I do think that Toronto is probably the safest big city of its size in North America. That said, I am wondering about how often brazen violent incidents of this nature have happened in reputedly safe downtown shopping districts in admittedly crime-ridden U.S. cities. (I count two in less that 10 years in Toronto - this seems like a lot.)

My guess is that there haven't been many elsewhere, and trying to think of a reason. Maybe this would be because in a U.S. city with huge crime problems, often there is a showplace downtown district that is heavily policed in order that visitors are not afraid of going there. Hence, local gangbangers wouldn't dare do anything there, especially given that they often have freer reign over other areas of their city.

[Marv101]

I haven't visited your exhilirating city since the early nineties, but I do recall that for a city of it's size it's been an extremely safe city since my very first visit in 1975, when I stayed at the long-gone Westbury Hotel.

If I had to compare Toronto to any US city, including my birthplace & hometown of Los Angeles, I'd vote for San Francisco; both cities just ooze fun, with world class shopping, internationally-renowned public transit systems, and several legendary hotels, not to mention tons of great restaurants and great nightlife if you like to walk and explore either city.

The architecture in both cities is also phenomenal, starting with Skydome and the Harbour Castle Hilton as well as the Hyatt egency, two of the very best hotels I've ever stayed in.

[botticelli]

Originally Posted by Marv101

with world class shopping, internationally-renowned public transit systems,

The architecture in both cities is also phenomenal,

world class shopping, international renowned transit system, phenomenal architecture... I know we all want to be nice on public forums, but these are far from the truth.

We are a safe, lively and livable city, yet for a metro of 6M, Toronto's shopping, transit and architecture are not impressive by world standards at all. I actually found all the three are Toronto's obvious weakness.

[botticelli]

Originally Posted by Acajack

I do think that Toronto is probably the safest big city of its size in North America. That said, I am wondering about how often brazen violent incidents of this nature have happened in reputedly safe downtown shopping districts in admittedly crime-ridden U.S. cities. (I count two in less that 10 years in Toronto - this seems like a lot.)

My guess is that there haven't been many elsewhere, and trying to think of a reason. Maybe this would be because in a U.S. city with huge crime problems, often there is a showplace downtown district that is heavily policed in order that visitors are not afraid of going there. Hence, local gangbangers wouldn't dare do anything there, especially given that they often have freer reign over other areas of their city.

I live nearby and know that the foodcourt at Eaton Centre is interesting in the sense that it has completely different clientele between weekdays and weekends.

During weekday, it is most professionals who work nearby and it is incredibly safe. In the weekends, it is folks from everywhere from the city, including those seedy neighourhoods, many of whom didn't go to eat there, but just to sit there to "hang out", or taking care of various "businesses". You can tell the difference immediately by just looking at how they are dressed and act. Totally different people.