Special Areas Board Explained
| Official Name: | Special Areas Board |
| Map Alt: | Locations of Alberta's special areas |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Canada |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Alberta |
| Subdivision Type2: | Regions |
| Subdivision Name2: | Central and Southern Alberta |
| Subdivision Type3: | Census division |
| Subdivision Name3: | No. 4 |
| Established Title: | Special Areas Act |
| Established Date: | 1938 |
| Leader Title: | Governing body |
| Leader Name: | Special Areas Board |
| Leader Title1: | Chairperson |
| Leader Name1: | Jordon Christianson (acting) |
| Leader Title2: | Minister of Municipal Affairs |
| Leader Title3: | District office |
| Leader Name3: | Hanna |
| Area Footnotes: | (2016) |
| Area Land Km2: | 20,375.79 |
| Population Total: | 4,184 |
| Population As Of: | 2016 |
| Population Density Km2: | 0.21 |
| Timezone: | MST |
| Utc Offset: | -7 |
| Timezone Dst: | MDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -6 |
| 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.[1] [2]
The three special areas were created in 1938 under the authority of the Special Areas Act[3] as a result of hardship brought upon a particular area in southeastern Alberta during the drought of the 1930s.[1] 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.[4] The three special areas are located in southeast Alberta within Census Division 4.
History
The Special Areas Act of 1938[5] 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.[6] 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- Tilley East Special Area, No. 1: The northern part of this special area was withdrawn and added to Berry Creek-Sullivan Lake Special Area in 1941, and now forms the portion of Special Area No. 2 that is south of the Red Deer River.[7] Tilley East was still a special area in 1955,[8] but was not by 1959.[9] 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.[10] 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.[9]
- 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.[9] In 1969, the northern portion of Special Area No. 3 became Special Area No. 4.[11]
- Bow West Special Area, No. 4: This area was still a special area in 1955,[8] but was not by 1959.[9] It is now part of Vulcan County and the Municipal District of Taber.
List
Alberta's three special areas had a combined population of 4,184 in 2016.
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: Types of Municipalities in Alberta . Alberta Municipal Affairs . May 16, 2008 . December 18, 2008.
- Web site: About The Special Areas . Special Areas Board . December 27, 2009.
- Web site: Special Areas Act . Alberta Queen's Printer . December 6, 2009.
- http://www.qp.gov.ab.ca/documents/Acts/S16.cfm?frm_isbn=0779703685 Alberta Queens Printer
- Book: The Special Areas Act, 1938. Statutes of the Province of Alberta passed in the fourth session of the eighth legislative assembly. 439.
- Book: The Special Areas Act, 1939. Statutes of the Province of Alberta passed in the seventh session of the eighth legislative assembly. 179.
- News: Andison. R. A.. Certain provincial lands withdrawn from the Tilley East Special Area and added to the Berry Creek-Sullivan Lake Special Area. April 21, 2011. The Alberta Gazette. July 15, 1941.
- Book: The revised statutes of Alberta, 1955. Volume IV. Chapter 317. An Act respecting Special Areas. 467.
- News: Andison. R. A.. An act to amend the Special Areas Act. April 21, 2011. The Alberta Gazette. April 7, 1959.
- News: Andison. R. A.. The areas of the Berry Creek-Sullivan Lake Special Area and the Sounding Creek-Neutral Hills Special Area, amended. April 21, 2011. The Alberta Gazette. April 29, 1939.
- News: Strom. H. E.. Lands constituted as Special Area No. 4. April 21, 2011. The Alberta Gazette. December 31, 1968.
- Web site: Municipal Profiles (Special Areas) . Alberta Municipal Affairs . May 31, 2013 . June 5, 2013.
- Web site: Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Alberta) . . February 8, 2017 . February 8, 2017.
