Community Safety & Well-being

Local quantitative data indicates that from 2019 to 2020, Regina family/domestic violence victim support services have seen a 20 per cent increase in referrals and a 23 per cent increase in active files. Of these referrals in 2019 and 2020, the vast majority of clients are female (85 per cent and 82 per cent, respectfully), with about three quarters falling between the ages of 21-50 years old.

Where do we go from here?

• Establish community action table for domestic violence & intimate partner violence.
• Implement initiatives to prevent domestic violence and intimate partner violence.
• Strengthen services to identify and offer support in situations of domestic violence and intimate partner violence.
• Ensure adequate emergency response supports are available for those fleeing situations of domestic violence and intimate partner violence.
• Establish supports and services for survivors, perpetrators, and their families to facilitate healing.

Existing data demonstrate that about 15 per cent of Regina residents were experiencing some form of food insecurity (marginal, moderate, or severe) in 2017-2018, which is slightly higher than the provincial rate. Further, given that requests for service from the Regina Food Bank increased dramatically in 2020 (most likely due to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic), it is possible that overall levels of food insecurity in the city have grown. Food security was also listed as a response by some survey respondents when asked which issues require the most improvement/attention to enhance quality of life, safety, and well-being in Regina.

Where do we go from here?

• Establish community action table for food insecurity.
• Ensure basic food needs are met, while establishing approaches to address food security, strengthen food systems, and support residents in achieving their diverse food needs.
• Increase access to healthy food and water for all residents.
• Address issues of food affordability, particularly for those with low incomes.
• Support and develop opportunities for urban agriculture.

Where do we go from here?

• Establish a community action table for substance use.
• Prevent and reduce the harms associated with drug use, drug-related offenses, addictions, and overdose.
• Decrease the presence of needles and other drug paraphernalia in public places.
• Reduce the stigma surrounding substance use and addictions.
• Increase education on and public awareness of substance use issues and addictions.

While data from Statistics Canada indicate very low levels of hate crime in Regina, these results should be interpreted with caution. Many actions that are reported as being motivated by hate are not counted in statistics as hate crimes because they do not fit into the specific Criminal Code definitions. For example, while a perpetrator may yell racial slurs while assaulting a person of colour, this offence is charged as an assault (and statistically counted as such) while the motivation can be considered an aggravating factor during sentencing. As such, they are unlikely to reflect the actual rates of hate-motivated crimes occurring in the city.

 Where do we go from here?

• Establish community action table for racism & discrimination.
• Recognize and reject racism and discrimination in Regina.
• Support individuals in accessing safer spaces and services.
• Provide opportunities to create diverse and inclusive communities and workplaces.

The 2019 50 Vital Community ConversationsOpens in new window report indicated that perceived and actual safety in Regina are areas of concern. Official rates indicate that Regina’s Crime Severity Index has recently increased (higher than the national average). Further, community members indicated that many people feel unsafe going out in the evening and there is a need for more neighbourhood-based safety programs.

 Where do we go from here?

• Establish community action table for safety.
• Focus on upstream prevention and early intervention to reduce risks, harm, crime, and victimization, and improve overall well-being.
• Address social disorder and crimes committed out of despair.
• Address residents’ concerns around physical safety in Regina.
• Engage residents by providing information and awareness on the realities of community well-being and safety in Regina.
• Enhance incident response and recovery to support community healing.

The 2019 Vital Community Conversations ReportOpens in new window highlighted that many residents identified a need for more sustained programs and services for substance use, mental health, employment, and those designed to address the needs of young people, newcomers and immigrants, and the Indigenous community.

 Where do we go from here?

• Establish Community Action Table for service systems.
• Pursue a collective impact approach for the Regina human service system.
• Increase the accessibility, inclusion, and centralization of services.