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.
Special Areas Board is permanently closing the BF83165 (Robinson) Bridge. This bridge is located on RR 15-3, one mile north of Highway 9. Inspections confirmed structural issues, and the continued use of the bridge by vehicle...
Effective July 29th, 2026, the Special Areas Board is informing the public that a fire advisory is in effect and extends throughout Special Areas No. 2, 3 and 4. The Special Areas Board advises extreme caution and that only n...
Special Areas hosted an information session in Cereal on Wednesday, April 22 at 7 pm. This public meeting shared options related to the operation of the CJ Peacock Centre, as well as answering questions the community had rega...
