Calgary — first place to have Crime Stoppers — unveils new wrapped transit bus

A new Calgary Transit bus wrapped in Crime Stoppers print was unveiled Thursday to bring awareness to the service and what it does for the community.

Mayor Jyoti Gondek highlighted some significant numbers since Calgary Crime Stoppers was established 42 years ago, during the announcement.

“In Calgary alone, the 120,000-plus tips that have come in since 1982, have resulted in almost 12,000 charges laid and over $360 million in total seizures,” she said.

Alberta justice minister Mickey Amery called Crimestoppers a key partner in crime prevention, noting that in May of 2022, the province funded Crime Stoppers for the first time, providing $850,000 over three years for the program.

Calgary was the first place in Canada to have Crime Stoppers.

Former Lt. Gov. Lois Mitchell was part of the group that started Calgary Crime Stoppers in 1982, and says police have a special place in her heart.

“My grandfather Thomas Mackie came to Calgary from Scotland in 1903 and joined the Calgary police force, he rose through the ranks and in 1909 he was appointed chief of police,” she said. “He was seen as a fair and honest man and became known as ‘Honest Tom Mackie.’ So you have to know that my heart is with [them] anytime I see any police officer anywhere.”

She adds she was honoured to be part of the team that brought Crime Stoppers to the city.

“Working with community leaders and witnessing how the program encouraged fellow citizens of Calgary to actively participate in making our city a safer place to live was a very fulfilling experience,” Mitchell added.

Over the past four decades, Calgary Crime Stoppers has played a role in solving more than 15,000 cases and making more than 7,300 arrests.