Calgary, a city renowned for its strong community spirit and neighborly care, is confronting a harrowing reality. Thousands of its residents are unsafe in the very place they should feel most secure: their own homes.
Alarming Statistics Reveal a Deepening Crisis
As Family Violence Awareness Month concludes and the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence begins, new data from the Calgary Police Service paints a distressing picture. From January to September 2025, police responded to 3,592 domestic violence incidents and over 14,600 domestic conflict calls. Both figures mark five-year highs for the city.
These numbers likely represent just the tip of the iceberg. Research indicates that only about 25 percent of domestic violence victims ever contact the police, suggesting the true scale of the problem is far greater. Community surveys reflect this underlying fear, with nearly seven out of ten Calgarians expressing worry about domestic violence in their city.
A Widespread Impact Across Communities
This crisis does not discriminate. It cuts across gender, age, neighborhood, and income level. While the data shows a consistent and disproportionate impact on Indigenous women, girls, boys, and Two-Spirit people, police also report that the number of male victims has risen in each of the past three years.
The consequences of family violence extend far beyond the immediate victims. It shatters the health and safety of children, leaves deep trauma for extended families and friends, and creates ripple effects into workplaces, schools, and public spaces. These are not distant statistics; they represent people living next door, working in adjacent offices, and passing by on the street.
Systemic Strains and the Path Forward
Front-line support agencies are stretched to their limits. Emergency shelters, while life-saving, are consistently at capacity and can only offer short-term stays. Families attempting to transition from shelters to more stable, second-stage housing face long wait lists, and finding affordable housing remains a significant barrier for those fleeing violence.
The solution requires a multi-faceted, community-wide response. Experts emphasize the need for:
- Culturally safe, Indigenous-led approaches across the support system.
- Expanded and coordinated networks of support services in Calgary and surrounding rural areas.
- Action from neighbors, employers, friends, and family to recognize signs and offer support.
Evidence shows that when survivors are supported through a coordinated network, their safety, stability, and hope for the future increase significantly. The time for that collective action is now, before this crisis deepens further.
