Prince Albert (population 37,578), formally named for Queen Victoria's husband, is the third-largest city in Saskatchewan. As noted in Isolated Traveller, it was first called kistahpinanihk, which is Cree for "sitting pretty place." Geographically, it sits between lush aspen parkland to the south and imposing boreal forests to the north. According to The Canadian Encyclopedia, it was a pulp and paper mill town until 2006, when it transitioned to become the region's key service center. It's also known for its penal institutions (including a federal penitentiary), men's and women's correctional facilities, and a young offenders' institution.
Perhaps fittingly, Prince Albert has placed in the Maclean's top ten most dangerous places for years, and in the 2020 survey, it came in fourth. Murder rates are particularly high, with six recorded homicides in 2020, including two child victims. According to a Prince Albert Daily Herald article, in the first half of 2021, the city had already recorded six homicides.
As noted in a Global News report, the causes of the ongoing crime problem in Prince Albert are "addictions, mental health issues, gang activity, and poverty." Gun possession has gone up, and with it, violent offenses. According to CBC News, a large proportion of the area's gangs are made up of Indigenous youth who are dealing with "deep-rooted issues." In other words, the painful legacy of British colonization lives on in Prince Albert.
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