Gun violence is on the rise in Canada. In parts of the Greater Toronto Area, it's a record-breaking year
City of Hamilton has seen more shootings this year so far than it ever has
Melanie Ward vividly recalls the moment she was told her son, Alexander Circiumaru, was dead.
"I just dropped to my knees and screamed," she said.
Her son, 19, was on his way to an appointment in downtown Hamilton when he was shot multiple times on March 6. Hamilton police believe it was a targeted attack. Circiumaru was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Ward, who lives near Naples, Florida, said the loss has been overwhelming.
"I lost my son. I lost the teenager. I lost the 19 years of his life, and now I lose his future."
She is one of many affected by the increase in gun violence across Hamilton and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) this year. Local police forces have expressed concerns about the alarming rise in shootings since January.
The rise in gun violence in the GTA is part of a larger national trend.
Record Number of Shootings
In Hamilton, there have been 58 shootings as of November 4, compared to 35 last year—setting a new record, according to Staff Sgt. Steve Bereziuk, head of the city's shooting response team. This is one of the few teams of its kind in Canada, created to address the increase in gun violence.
"These shootings are happening at all hours of the day, with a disturbing trend of daytime incidents," said Bereziuk. "We're seeing shootouts with more than one firearm involved."
Some of the most disturbing incidents include a daytime shooting in August where a person was used as a human shield and another incident where a man was shot after allowing a six-year-old to play with his gun.
"We're concerned. These are scary numbers," he added.
Peel Regional Police are seizing illegal firearms every 36 hours on average, Chief Nishan Duraiappah said in a recent update, citing an 86% increase in firearm seizures this year compared to last.
Toronto and York regions are experiencing similar increases in gun violence.
In Toronto, 126 more shootings have occurred this year compared to last, totaling 395 incidents—making it the city's highest number of shootings in four years. York also reported a four-year high with 63 shootings by the end of October.
More Guns in Circulation
Marty Kearns, deputy commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police, confirmed that violent crime, particularly gun violence, is on the rise across the province.
Statistics Canada data shows that nationwide, shootings more than doubled between 2018 and 2023, from 1,151 to 2,323 incidents.
Experts attribute much of this rise to firearms being smuggled from the United States, where gun laws are more relaxed.
"The U.S. is the global exporter of crime guns," said Jooyoung Lee, a University of Toronto sociology professor. "These firearms flow into Canada, Mexico, and other parts of the world."
Canada has made efforts to tighten border security, with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) intercepting 887 firearms as of mid-October. However, Lee believes more needs to be done to secure the borders.
"Smugglers are using more sophisticated methods to conceal firearms," said CBSA. The agency has dedicated teams and resources to detect illegal items, including firearms, using handheld devices, X-ray machines, and detector dogs.
Most of the firearms seized by Hamilton police are traced back to the U.S., according to Bereziuk.
"The local police have no control over that, and we can't enforce it," he said.
The federal government's 2022 "freeze" on the sale and transfer of handguns has done little to curb the spike in gun violence, according to Lee. He suggests that policy makers should not only focus on securing borders but also address socioeconomic disparities.
"Areas with the most marginalized populations are the hotspots for violence," he said, emphasizing that vulnerable individuals are more likely to be involved in or exposed to gun violence.
For Ward, however, the focus remains on the personal cost of gun violence.
"[Alex] was just beginning his life, with a future ahead of him, and it was stolen from him. It was stolen from me and my family."
