Special Areas Board

The Special Areas Board is the governing body of Alberta's special areas. Special areas are designated rural municipalities similar to a municipal district; however, the elected advisory councils are overseen by four representatives appointed by the province, under the direct authority of Alberta Municipal Affairs.[4][5]

Special Areas Board
Rural municipality
Boundary sign
Distribution of Alberta's three special areas
Country Canada
Province Alberta
RegionsCentral and Southern Alberta
Census divisionNo. 4
Special Areas Act1938
Government
 • Governing bodySpecial Areas Board
 • ChairpersonJordon Christianson (acting)
 • Minister of Municipal AffairsDeron Bilous
 • District officeHanna
Area
(2016)[3]
 • Total20,375.79 km2 (7,867.14 sq mi)
Population
 (2016)[3]
 • Total4,184
 • Density0.21/km2 (0.5/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-6 (MDT)
WebsiteSpecial Areas Board

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.

History

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.

  • Tilley East Special Area, No. 1: The northern part of this special area was withdrawn and added to Berry Creek-Sullivan Lake Special Area in 1941, and now forms the portion of Special Area No. 2 that is south of the Red Deer River.[10] Tilley East was still a special area in 1955,[11] but was not by 1959.[12] This area is now part of Cypress County, formerly the Municipal District of Cypress No. 1.
  • Berry Creek-Sullivan Lake Special Area, No. 2: The eastern portion of this special area was withdrawn and added to the Sounding Creek-Neutral Hills Special Area in 1939.[13] The northern part of Tilley East Special Area was added to this special area in 1941. It was renamed Special Area No. 2 in 1959.[12]
  • Sounding Creek-Neutral Hills Special Area, No. 3: The eastern portion of the Berry Creek-Sullivan Lake Special Area was added to this special area in 1939. It was renamed Special Area No. 3 in 1959.[12] In 1969, the northern portion of Special Area No. 3 became Special Area No. 4.[14]
  • Bow West Special Area, No. 4: This area was still a special area in 1955,[11] but was not by 1959.[12] It is now part of Vulcan County and the Municipal District of Taber.

List of special areas

Alberta's three special areas had a combined population totalling 4,499 in 2011.[15]

See also

References
  1. "Municipal Officials Search". Alberta Municipal Affairs. September 22, 2017. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
  2. "Alberta Municipal Affairs". Alberta Municipal Affairs. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  3. "Population and Dwelling Count Highlight Tables, 2016 Census". Statistics Canada. Government of Canada. February 8, 2017. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  4. "Types of Municipalities in Alberta". Alberta Municipal Affairs. May 16, 2008. Retrieved December 18, 2008.
  5. "About The Special Areas". Special Areas Board. Retrieved December 27, 2009.
  6. "Special Areas Act". Alberta Queen's Printer. Retrieved December 6, 2009.
  7. Alberta Queens Printer - Special Areas Act
  8. The Special Areas Act, 1938. Statutes of the Province of Alberta passed in the fourth session of the eighth legislative assembly. p. 439.
  9. The Special Areas Act, 1939. Statutes of the Province of Alberta passed in the seventh session of the eighth legislative assembly. p. 179.
  10. Andison, R. A. (July 15, 1941). "Certain provincial lands withdrawn from the Tilley East Special Area and added to the Berry Creek-Sullivan Lake Special Area" (PDF). The Alberta Gazette. Retrieved April 21, 2011.
  11. The revised statutes of Alberta, 1955. Volume IV. Chapter 317. An Act respecting Special Areas. p. 467.
  12. Andison, R. A. (April 7, 1959). "An act to amend the Special Areas Act" (PDF). The Alberta Gazette. Retrieved April 21, 2011.
  13. Andison, R. A. (April 29, 1939). "The areas of the Berry Creek-Sullivan Lake Special Area and the Sounding Creek-Neutral Hills Special Area, amended" (PDF). The Alberta Gazette. Retrieved April 21, 2011.
  14. Strom, H. E. (December 31, 1968). "Lands constituted as Special Area No. 4" (PDF). The Alberta Gazette. Retrieved April 21, 2011.
  15. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. August 9, 2016. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  16. "Municipal Profiles (Special Areas)" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. May 31, 2013. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
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