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• Police reported 611 homicides in Canada during 2008, 17 more than the previous year, resulting in a 2% increase in the homicide rate. After peaking in the mid-1970s, the homicide rate generally declined until 1999 and has been relatively stable since.
• The increase in 2008 was primarily due to increases in homicides in Alberta and British Columbia, many of which were gang-related. Gang-related homicides continued to increase in 2008, accounting for almost one in four homicides in Canada overall.
• Homicide victims were equally likely to be shot or stabbed, with each method accounting for about one-third of all homicides. The rate of firearm homicides has increased 24% since 2002 including a 5% increase in 2008. About 6 in 10 firearm related homicides were committed with a handgun in 2008.
• In 2008, females accounted for 24% of homicide victims, the lowest proportion since data collection began. It was also the lowest rate of females killed since 1961.
• Similar to previous years, the western provinces and territories continued to have the highest homicide rates. Manitoba reported the highest provincial rate followed by Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia. New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec reported the lowest rates. 
• Looking at the 34 census metropolitan areas in Canada, the highest homicide rates were found in the west. Abbotsford-Mission recorded the highest rate, followed by Winnipeg, Regina, Edmonton, Kelowna, Calgary and Vancouver.
• In 2008, 138 homicides were reported by police to have been gang-related. The 2008 total was 20 more than in 2007. In total, more than half of all homicides committed with a firearm in 2008 were gang-related.
• Most homicide victims knew their killer. Last year was no exception, with 83% of solved homicides being committed by someone known to the victim, most often an acquaintance (41%) or a family member (33%).
• Spousal homicide rates have generally been declining over the past 30 years. In 2008, spousal homicides accounted for slightly less than half of all homicides committed by family members, consistent with the previous year.
• The number of youth accused of homicide has dropped from a peak of 85 in 2006 to 74 in 2007 and to 55 in 2008.