Report reveals alarming rise in gun violence in Canada; urges shift in national response
Categories: Faculty, Research, Tanya SharpeResearch exposes deep racial disparities and the need for community-centered and trauma informed responses to firearm violence prevention. Toronto has the highest rate of gun violence among Canadian cities.
For more than a decade, Canada has seen rising rates of gun violence, which is disproportionately devastating racialized communities, particularly in Toronto.
A landmark report by the Centre for Research & Innovation for Black Survivors of Homicide Victims (The CRIB) puts these national and regional statistics in context and calls for a shift in how gun violence is understood and addressed.
View the Report on Gun Violence in Canada here.
Drawing on national and local data and community-based research, the report, led by Dr. Tanya L. Sharpe, a Professor at the University of Toronto’s Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, shares deep insight into racial disparities, the neighbourhoods most affected by gun violence, and the impact of firearm-related trauma that, if left unaddressed, contributes to further harm.
“The statistics on rising rates of gun violence are more than a collection of isolated incidents. They are evidence of a pervasive public health issue rooted in systemic inequities that are inherently violent,” says Dr. Sharpe. “Our report addresses notable gaps in research on the indirect and long-terms consequences of gun violence and the need for holistic, trauma-informed, and community-centered responses.”
Rising numbers
The CRIB reports that over the past decade, firearm-related homicides have risen by nearly 90% in Canada, even when adjusting for population growth. But these deaths are not evenly distributed. In 2023, nearly 80% of gun-related homicides occurred in urban centers. That same year, Canada recorded 14,416 firearm-related incidents, with Toronto alone accounting for 17% of the national total and 52% of Ontario’s cases. Despite recent improvements in the past year, Toronto’s gun violence rate surged by 80% from 2013 to 2023.
In 2024, the Toronto Police Service recorded 461 shootings and firearm discharges, a 33.6% increase from the previous year. Gun-related deaths also rose, from 29 in 2023 to 43 in 2024. Since 2016, Toronto has recorded the highest rate of gun violence among Canada’s largest cities.
Disproportionate harm
The report highlights stark racial disparities nationally, with Black, Indigenous, and other racialized populations significantly overrepresented among firearm homicide victims relative to their population. In 2022, African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) individuals made up 25% of firearm homicide victims, despite representing just 4.3% of Canada’s population. Indigenous peoples accounted for 17% of victims, more than triple their population share.
Eight of the ten Toronto neighborhoods with the highest number of shootings are designated Neighbourhood Improvement Areas (NIAs), communities identified by the city as facing significant structural disadvantages in health, income, education, and safety.
“Research shows that structural inequities — such as limited access to support systems and resources that support economic growth, mental and physical wellness, and community engagement — are key determinants of gun violence,” says Dr. Shape.
Professor Tanya Sharpe
Looking beyond the crime statistics
The CRIB’s own research documents the ripple effects of firearm violence, which extend far beyond the immediate victims, impacting families, friends, and entire communities. The mental health impacts are particularly severe. Exposure to gun violence is linked to PTSD, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation, especially among youth. Unfortunately, access to culturally attuned, trauma-informed services, which can help prevent and mitigate harm, remains limited for racialized communities.
“Broader experiences of trauma, grief, and loss remain largely unacknowledged in our national dialogue and policy responses,” says Dr. Sharpe. “The failure to address the full scope of firearm-related harms, limits our understanding of what has become a public health crisis and limits our ability to work with communities to prevent future violence.”
The CRIB’s report issues a clear call to action: Canada must shift its approach to gun violence from reactive enforcement to proactive, sustained, community-driven prevention. This includes investing in culturally responsive grief and trauma services, youth-centered conflict resolution programs, and economic development in communities contending with legacies of harm. The CRIB’s report advocates for citywide mapping and coordination of services to ensure survivors can access relevant, community-based support. It also calls for race-based data collection, now required under Ontario’s 2017 Anti-Racism Act and exploratory studies, to map the unique needs of diverse populations impacted by gun violence.
Media Contacts:
Dr. Tanya L. Sharpe
Professor & Endowed Chair, Social Work in the Global Community
Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work
Unversity of Toronto
Dale Duncan
Senior Communications Strategist
Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work
University of Toronto