Author: Dr. Loleen Berdahl & Karen Wilkie
Executive Summary
Canada’s big cities are some of the best places in the world in which to live. However, while most residents enjoy a high quality of life, others are struggling with a number of social challenges. Using six western Canadian urban cities (the Greater Vancouver Region, Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon, and Winnipeg) as case studies, the Core Challenges Initiative examines the street level social problems-such as homelessness, street prostitution, and street drug activity-that tend to be concentrated in the core areas (downtowns and inner city neighbourhoods) of large urban areas.
Hard Times provides an overview of the street level social problems evident in the six cities. The report answers two key questions:
What street level social problems do the core areas of the Greater Vancouver Region, Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon and Winnipeg currently face?
What are the implications of these problems for cities and what are the risks if they are not addressed?
Qualitative research was conducted to create a picture of street level social problems in western Canadian cities from the perspectives of frontline workers, experts, and community leaders. In total, 311 individuals were consulted.
Although direct comparisons across the cities are not always possible, a number of common themes and findings emerged. In terms of the street level social challenges in the six cities, homelessness (including hidden homelessness and those at risk of becoming homeless) and drug activity were reported to be large issues. Prostitution was also reported to be an issue in each city. Street gang activity was reported to be a large challenge in Regina, Saskatoon, and Winnipeg and, although it was identified as less of an issue in the other cities, it was identified as a growing concern. Panhandling and graffiti were reported to be minor issues in comparison to the other street level challenges in cities.
Other key themes include: problems are intensifying; issues are interconnected and increasing in complexity; issues are concentrated in inner city neighbourhoods and, more specifically, on certain blocks and streets; and youth involvement in street level social problems is a growing concern.
Street level social issues affect individuals, families, neighbourhoods, businesses, governments, and cities as a whole. The broad community implications identified by the participants include: social fragmentation and the growing social divide in cities; threats to perceived and actual public safety; poor health outcomes; higher long-term government service costs; loss of business or reduced business investment in certain areas; and negative city image. On a positive note, participants identified the potential for increased community building and greater resident and community investment in inner city neighbourhoods.