In the heart of southeastern Alberta’s grasslands lies Special Areas 2, 3, and 4. Special Areas is made up of the communities of Consort, Empress, Hanna, Oyen, Veteran, and Youngstown, and many farmers and ranchers who live in the surrounding Special Areas. Just a couple of hours away from major urban centres, Special Areas offers all the amenities of big-city life without the inconveniences of traffic and crowds.
The Special Areas Board was set up under the Special Areas Act in response to the extreme hardship of the depression in the 1930s. This region was first populated by settlers who braved the weather and harsh living conditions to carve out lives for themselves.
Since then, the Special Areas Board has been providing rural municipal government services and public land management to residents and businesses. The Board looks after roads and parks, provides water and emergency services, manages public land and community pastures, and develops economic and conservation strategies.
Living in the Special Areas is a unique experience. With ample land and accessible real estate prices, there are endless opportunities to make your dreams a reality, while still leaving plenty of time to relax on the front porch or explore the great outdoors. Get to know our region and discover why it’s a great place to start a business, raise a family, visit, or retire.
“Looking back on 2021, we faced some pretty big challenges: from disruptive public health measures to supply chain issues to extreme weather conditions. 2021 was a year that tested us all. Although we may not know what 2022 w...
Special Areas offices will be closed for the holidays from Friday, December 24 until Tuesday, December 28. Offices will also be closed on Monday, January 3. Offices will open for regular business hours on Wednesday, December ...
Advisory Council Gets Ready for 2022 Special Areas Advisory Council held their first fall Council meeting under the provincial Restrictions Exemption Program from December 1 to 3 in Hanna. A variety of topics were covered ove...
