As downtown safety concerns grow in Saskatoon, so do calls for supports and change
Police data shows that in the first six months of 2023, violent crime slightly decreased while property crimes slightly increased in the central business district. From January to June 2023, more than 850 incidents were reported in the central business district, an area that stretches from Idylwyld Drive east to the South Saskatchewan River and north to 25th Street.
Brent Penner, executive director of the downtown BID (DTNYXE), said they’ve been hearing a lot more about vandalism. Windows are broken for no apparent reason — just a window destroyed, not a break-in — and repair costs are a frustration for the tenant, he added in an email. Penner said a tailored approach to policing in the downtown is one of the many calls for change the BID has made over the years, including a call on the provincial and federal governments to better support people with addictions and mental health issues, including calls for beds in Saskatchewan to stabilize and treat people.
When it comes to perceptions of safety, Penner said he understands that when bad things happen people are concerned. Thousands of people visit and work downtown, and stay in the hotels there — it’s busy year-round and is home to many summer festivals, he noted. When asked if he feels the area is unfairly singled out for negative attention, he said it may be singled out but that’s because the Downtown is a city’s most important neighbourhood, and it does get more attention when something occurs there. “I think that’s because people also realize how important downtown is to our city. More than any other neighbourhood, Downtown is associated with the type of city Saskatoon is, and what it aspires to be.”
Levi Nicholat, co-owner of Art Placement, a gallery and art supply business tucked away in a back alley location off Third Avenue South, said petty vandalism like graffiti has always been a problem. He hasn’t observed a sharp increase in crime, but it’s constant and ongoing, he said. Due to the back alley location, staff are always on heightened alert, he added. “We’ve never had a violent incident. We’ve dealt with some shoplifters and other things like that. We don’t seem to be preyed upon.” Nicholat said police and Community Support Officers walk around the area regularly and check in, which he appreciates.
Published Aug 04, 2023 – Saskatoon StarPhoenix
