CURIOUS BREWS: Crime, Perception, and the City

Come join us for our monthly science lecture series featuring local experts and storytellers in a relaxed bar setting. 🍻🧠✨

Speaker: Dr. Murtaza Haider

Dr. Haider serves as a Professor and the Radhe Krishna Gupta Executive Chair in Cities and Communities at the Alberta School of Business. Beyond his academic role, he is the Executive Director of the Cities Institute at the University of Alberta and holds a position as a Senior Fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute. His work bridges the gap between urban data and public policy, providing critical insights into how cities function and thrive.

Lecture: Crime, Perception, and Reality: Where Does Edmonton Really Stand?

Drawing on comparative data across Canada, we benchmark Edmonton’s violent crime rates against peer cities to answer a simple but consequential question: how does Edmonton really stack up? The findings challenge common assumptions and expose where perception diverges sharply from reality.

Despite sustained efforts by the Edmonton Police Service and city leadership, the visible experience of disorder in parts of the city continues to undermine confidence. Understanding whether this reflects deeper structural issues or misaligned perceptions is critical for shaping effective policy.

Here are some key takeaways:

• A clear breakdown of violent crime statistics in Edmonton and where it occurs.
• An analysis of whether Edmonton is a national outlier or in line with comparable Canadian cities.
• Why public safety perceptions can diverge from statistical reality.
• What must change to restore confidence, attract investments, and revitalize downtown Edmonton.

*Media Notice*

Just a heads-up that we’ll be capturing photos and videos throughout the event for our social media and marketing. By joining us, you’re consenting to be part of the highlights! If you’d prefer to stay out of the frame, no problem—just let us know at [email protected].

Event Agenda:

• 6:00 PM - 6:45 PM: Social hour pre-lecture, sign in, food/drink
• 6:45 PM - 7:00 PM: Welcome and Speaker Introduction
• 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Lecture + Q&A
• 8:00 PM - 8:15 PM: Door prizes, sponsor acknowledgements
• 8:15 PM - 9:00 PM: Optional post-lecture networking

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We want everyone to have a fantastic time at Curious Brews! To help things run smoothly, here are some things to know:

• Parking: Complimentary parking is available in the MKT lot. When you arrive, please provide your license plate number to the MKT reception desk to register your vehicle. There is also street parking available nearby.
• Accessibility: Our event takes place in the cozy upstairs lounge. Please note that this space is only accessible via stairs.

• Mutual Respect: Our speakers generously volunteer their time and expertise. We ask that all interactions and questions remain kind, curious, and respectful.
• Sharing the Floor: We love a lively Q&A! To make sure we hear from as many voices as possible, please keep your questions brief. Just raise your hand and we'll get to you!
• Can’t Make It? No worries at all, life happens! Since our events consistently sell out, please let us know if you can’t attend so we can pass your ticket along to someone on our waiting list.

Curious Brews is all about meeting new people and sharing big ideas. After the lecture, we’ll transition into relaxed networking. We hope you’ll stay a while, grab another round, and introduce yourself to someone new!