Special Areas Board | |
---|---|
Country | Canada |
Province | Alberta |
Regions | Central and Southern Alberta |
Census division | No. 4 |
Special Areas Act | 1938 |
Government | |
• Governing body | Special Areas Board |
• Chairperson | Jordon Christianson (acting) |
• Minister of Municipal Affairs | Ric McIver |
• District office | Hanna |
Area (2016) [3] | |
• Land | 20,375.79 km2 (7,867.14 sq mi) |
Population (2016) [3] | |
• Total | 4,184 |
• Density | 0.21/km2 (0.5/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC-7 (MST) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
Website | Special Areas Board |
The Special Areas Board is the governing body of Alberta's special areas. Special areas are designated rural municipalities similar to municipal districts; however, the elected advisory councils are overseen by four representatives appointed by the province, under the direct authority of Alberta Municipal Affairs. [4] [5]
The three special areas were created in 1938 under the authority of the Special Areas Act [6] as a result of hardship brought upon a particular area in southeastern Alberta during the drought of the 1930s. [4] A special area is not to be confused with a specialized municipality, which is a completely different municipal status.
The special areas are administered under the provisions of the Special Areas Act. [7] The three special areas are located in southeast Alberta within Census Division 4.
The Special Areas Act of 1938 [8] created the six special areas of Tilley East, Berry Creek, Sullivan Lake, Sounding Creek, Neutral Hills, and Bow West, which had previously been special municipal areas. In 1939, these six special areas were consolidated into the four special areas listed below. [9] The original six special areas included 3.2 million hectares, while the current three only include 2.1 million hectares.
Alberta's three special areas had a combined population of 4,184 in 2016. [3]
Ohaton is a hamlet in central Alberta, Canada within Camrose County. Previously an incorporated municipality, Ohaton dissolved from village status on January 1, 1946.
The Municipality of Crowsnest Pass is a specialized municipality in southwest Alberta, Canada. Within the Rocky Mountains adjacent to the eponymous Crowsnest Pass, the municipality formed as a result of the 1979 amalgamation of five municipalities – the Village of Bellevue, the Town of Blairmore, the Town of Coleman, the Village of Frank, and Improvement District No. 5, which included the Hamlet of Hillcrest and numerous other unincorporated communities.
Strathcona County is a specialized municipality in the Edmonton Metropolitan Region within Alberta, Canada between Edmonton and Elk Island National Park. It forms part of Census Division No. 11.
Rocky View County is a municipal district in southern Alberta, Canada that is named for its views of the nearby Rocky Mountains to the west. It surrounds most of Calgary, forming the city's northern boundary and most of the city's western and eastern boundaries. At a population of 39,407 in 2016, Rocky View County is the most populous municipal district in Alberta. Though predominantly rural in nature, Rocky View County is home to 14 hamlets, including Langdon, one of Alberta's most populous hamlets. Its rural areas are home to numerous country residential subdivisions.
Tilley is a hamlet in southern Alberta, Canada within the County of Newell. It is located approximately 22 km southeast of the City of Brooks and 78 km northwest of the City of Medicine Hat.
The Municipal District of Greenview No. 16 is a municipal district (MD) in northwest Alberta, Canada. It covers the full extent of Census Division 18, and with an area of 32,984 km2 (12,735 sq mi), it is the largest municipal district in Alberta. Its administrative office is located in the Town of Valleyview.
Mackenzie County is a specialized municipality in northern Alberta, Canada. It is located in Census Division 17, along the Mackenzie Highway. Mackenzie County municipal office is located in the Hamlet of Fort Vermilion.
Special Area No. 2 is a special area in southern Alberta, Canada. It is a rural municipality similar to a municipal district; however, the elected council is overseen by four representatives appointed by the province, the Special Areas Board.
Cadotte Lake is an unincorporated community in northern Alberta, Canada within Northern Sunrise County. It is located on the northern shore of the homonymous lake, along Highway 986, 79 km (49 mi) east of Peace River and 68 km (42 mi) west of the Bicentennial Highway.
Compeer is a hamlet in east-central Alberta, Canada within Special Area No. 4. Previously an incorporated municipality, Compeer dissolved from village status on December 31, 1936, to become part of the Municipal District of Neutral Hills No. 331.
Sunnynook is a hamlet in southern Alberta, Canada within Special Area No. 2. It is located approximately 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) east of Highway 36 and 86 kilometres (53 mi) northeast of Brooks. The hamlet formerly housed the Berry Creek Community School Division office and area post office until amalgamation of the school division into Prairie Land Regional Division.
Alberta has provincial legislation allowing its municipalities to conduct municipal censuses between April 1 and June 30 inclusive. Municipalities choose to conduct their own censuses for multiple reasons such as to better inform municipal service planning and provision, to capitalize on per capita based grant funding from higher levels of government, or to simply update their populations since the last federal census.
Alberta has provincial legislation allowing its municipalities to conduct municipal censuses between April 1 and June 30 inclusive. Municipalities choose to conduct their own censuses for multiple reasons such as to better inform municipal service planning and provision, to capitalize on per capita based grant funding from higher levels of government, or to simply update their populations since the last federal census.