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Special Areas
Ken Gousseau
Medicine Hat News
After years of gradual decline, the
population of the Special Areas is on the
rebound, fuelled by a growing oil and gas
sector.
“The declining agricultural economies
and changing world over the years has
created a rural emigration issue in many Photo Courtesy Canadian Badlands Initiative
small communities, ours included,” says
Christie Dick, economic development & D Q D J U R X S E H Q H I L W S O D Q K H O S \ R X
officer for the SAMDA (Special Areas and
D W W U D F W D Q G U H W D L Q T X D O L W \ H P S O R \ H H V �
MD of Acadia) Economic Partnership – a
joint venture between the Special Areas
D Q G K H O S \ R X P D Q D J H S O D Q F R V W V "
Board, the Village of Empress, Village of
Cereal, Municipal District of Acadia, and
the Town of Oyen.
< H V Z L W K $ O E H U W D % O X H & U R V V
“The population decrease percentages
have slowed in recent years as oil and
: K H W K H U \ R X � U H O R R N L Q J I R U D J U R X S E H Q H I L W S O D Q W R K H O S \ R X D W W U D F W D Q G U H W D L Q
gas projects have increased revenues Photo Courtesy Canadian Badlands Initiative
T X D O L W \ H P S O R \ H H V L Q D W L J K W O D E R X U P D U N H W R U \ R X Q H H G D S O D Q W K D W Z L O O K H O S
and job opportunities for locals looking
\ R X P D Q D J H F R V W V W K U R X J K D Q H F R Q R P L F V O R Z G R Z Q � $ O E H U W D % O X H & U R V V K D V
to increase incomes for their families.
W K H U L J K W S O D Q I R U \ R X U E X V L Q H V V
We have noticed a slight surge in young
families returning or moving to the area
: L W K R X U X Q L T X H O \ $ O E H U W D Q D S S U R D F K W R J U R X S E H Q H I L W V \ R X J H W I O H [ L E L O L W \
to find a more peaceful and less expensive
F K R L F H D Q G F R V W F R Q W U R O L Q R Q H L Q Q R Y D W L Y H D Q G D I I R U G D E O H S D F N D J H $ O R Q J
alternative to city living. “
Z L W K S U R Y H Q V H
& D O O X V W R G D \ I R U D V L P S O H Q R R E O L J D W L R Q T X R W H
U Y L F H D Q G Y D O X H
Special Areas 2, 3 and 4 span 2.1 million
hectares of land and have a combined
7 R G D \ R Y H U P L O O L R Q $ O E H U W D Q V L Q F O X G L Q J P R U H W K D Q $ O E H
U W D
population of about 5,300. Numerous
H P S O R \ H U V W U X V W W K H S U D F W L F D O E H Q H I L W V D Q G D I I R U G D E O H S U R W H F W L R Q R I
hamlets are part of the special areas, in
$ O E H U W D % O X H & U R V V F R Y H U D J H
addition to the urban municipalities of Photo Courtesy Canadian Badlands Initiative
Hanna, Oyen, Consort, Youngstown,
in response to the severe drought of : K H W K H U \ R X U E X V L Q H V V K D V D S O D Q W K U R X J K D Q R W K H U E H Q H I L W S U R Y L G H U R U
Veteran, Empress and Cereal.
the 1930s. A board of three people,
G R H V Q � W K D Y H J U R X S E H Q H I L W V \ H W Z H F D Q K H O S \ R X E X L O G D S O D Q W K D W � V U L J K W
Economic activities in Special Area 2
appointed by the Lieutenant Governor
I R U \ R X U E X V L Q H V V � Z K D W H Y H U \ R X U E X G J H W D Q G Z K D W H Y H U \ R X U Q H H G V
include coal mining, power generation,
in Council, administer the Special Areas.
40261591•03/24/09
agriculture and oil and gas production.
An advisory council of 13 elected officials
Special Areas 3 and 4 are home to the
also represent the areas on various boards
petroleum industry and service sector,
and committees.
agriculture and several home-based
/ H W K E U L G J H 0 H G L F L Q H + D W
Planning is currently underway to build a
businesses.
7 R O O I U H H community and cultural centre in Special
The areas were created more than 70
Area 4. Construction has been tentatively
years ago under the Special Areas Act
scheduled for 2010.
Z Z Z D E E O X H F U R V V F D
$ % &
3 U H V F U L S W L R Q ' U X J V � ' H Q W D O � ( [ W H Q G H G + H D O W K � 9 L V L R Q
7 U D Y H O & R Y H U D J H � & U L W L F D O , O O Q H V V � + H D O W K 6 S H Q G L Q J $ F F R X Q W V
/ L I H D Q G ' L V D E L O L W \ � ( P S O R \ H H D Q G ) D P L O \ $ V V L V W D Q F H 3 U R J U D P
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