Operation Jingle All the Way may sound merry, but its purpose was serious. The Calgary police conducted this initiative on December 22 and 23 to crack down on crime and social disorder along the south portion of the city’s bus and CTrain routes. During the operation, 72 summonses were issued, 73 warrants were executed, and 11 charges were laid, including those for weapon possession and methamphetamines. Additionally, five encampments were discovered and cleared, a baton was confiscated, and 70 referrals were made to social agencies.
The police explained that teams were strategically deployed to disrupt disorder in problematic areas, identify frequent offenders, increase law enforcement visibility during the busy holiday period, and provide immediate assistance to those in need. Data from the Calgary Police Service revealed a total of 1,017 public service calls from the 11 stations along the south CTrain line between January 1 and November 29, 2025, with over 18% originating from Chinook station.
According to Statistics Canada, the rate of transit-related crimes in Calgary was 23.5 incidents per 100,000 people in 2024. Mike Mahar, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 583, highlighted the prevalent issue of crimes against Calgary Transit workers. He mentioned that transit employees face around 60 to 70 significant assaults annually, with many incidents going unreported, including cases of racism and verbal abuse.
Mahar emphasized that transit workers often feel more vulnerable than passengers due to the nature of their job, working in the dark for extended periods. Despite his slight misgivings about the operation’s name, Mahar acknowledged the positive impact of initiatives like Operation Jingle All the Way in combating crime. However, he advocated for increased year-round police presence rather than occasional blitzes to effectively address crime rates.
Calgary Transit has recently invested in enhancing safety measures on trains and buses by deploying more peace officers. These officers patrol the transit systems round-the-clock, with some stations additionally staffed by security guards. The police have affirmed their commitment to sustaining efforts to bolster public safety in areas affected by rising levels of social disorder and criminal activities.
