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.
Special Areas Board | |
|---|---|
Boundary sign | |
Distribution of Alberta's three special areas | |
| 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) | |
| • Land | 20,375.79 km2 (7,867.14 sq mi) |
| Population (2016) | |
| • 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 three special areas were created in 1938 under the authority of the Special Areas Act as a result of hardship brought upon a particular area in southeastern Alberta during the drought of the 1930s. 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. The three special areas are located in southeast Alberta within Census Division 4.