Palliser region communities have many services available for residents to keep them safe and secure.  A diverse range of recreational facilities and places of worship provide families the opportunity to stay active and maintain spiritual well-being.  All Palliser communities have a library or are part of a library system. 

Emergency Services and Fire Protection

Policing – Oyen RCMP Detachment
Ambulance, Fire, Rescue – Volunteer Fire Departments in Acadia Valley, Oyen, Cereal, Youngstown, Bindloss and Empress.Regional EMS. 911 Services
Justice Infrastructure – Provincial Court in Hanna

Recreation

• Campsite/Rest stops:
  • Buffalo
  • Esther
  • Naco
  • New Brigden
  • Soakii RV Park
• Community Halls:
  • New Brigden
  • Sibbald
  • Sedelia
  • Chinook
  • Lanfine
  • Esther
  • Cappon
  • Big Stone
• Curling Rink:
  • New Brigden




• Outdoor Skating:
  • New Brigden
  • Sibbald
• Rodeo Grounds:
  • Big Stone
• Ball Diamonds:
  • Sibbald
  • Esther
  • New  Bridgen
  • Big Stone
  • Cappon

Religious Services

• Cereal United Church (Cereal)
• Cereal Lutheran Church (Cereal)
• Kingdom Hall of the Jehovah’s Witnesses (Cereal)
• New Bridgen Church (New Brigden)
• Anglican Church (Oyen)
• Evangelical Missionary Church (Oyen)
• St. Peters Lutheran Church (Oyen)
• Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church (Oyen)
• United Church (Oyen)

Library

Cereal Municipal Library and Oyen Municipal Library

Residential property taxes are definitely a factor to consider when relocating. Although taxes vary depending on the community, Albertans paid the lowest provincial and municipal taxes, overall, in Canada in 2006/2007.

Additional Information

Property tax is either provided as a percentage or as a millage rate. A mill is one-thousandth of a dollar. To calculate the property tax, the assessed value of property is multiplied by the mill rate and then divided by 1,000. For example, property assessed at $100,000 located in a municipality with a mill rate of 20 mills would have a property tax bill of $2,000 per year.

Under the Canada Health Act, Alberta has a publicly administered and funded health care system that guarantees Albertans receive universal access to medically necessary hospital and health care services.

All eligible Alberta residents are covered under the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) to access healthcare services.  An eligible resident of Alberta is a person who is:

• Legally entitled to be or to remain in Canada and makes his/her permanent home in Alberta;
• Committed to being physically present in Alberta for at least 183 days in a 12 month period;
• Not claiming residency or obtaining benefits under a claim of residency in another province, territory or country;
• Any other person deemed by the regulations to be a resident not including a tourist, transient or visitor to Alberta.

Effective January 1, 2009, Albertans are no longer required to pay AHCIP premiums.

An Alberta Health Care card gives you access to the public health care system including medical checkups and hospital visits. Private clinics exist, but are permitted to perform only elective services not included as part of the primary care available through our health care system.

Alberta Health Services provides a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.

Available services in Special Areas No. 3 include emergency care, acute care, continuing care, community health services.  For emergencies call 911.

Oyen Big Country Hospital is an acute and continuing care facility.  Core programs at Big Country Hospital include acute/sub-acute medicine, emergency stabilization, ambulatory care services and continuing care.

Oyen Big Country Hospital
312-3rd Street East
Oyen, Alberta   T0L 2J0
Tel: 403-664-4300

Oyen Community Health Services also provides health care for the Town’s residents:

Oyen Community Health Services
315 3rd Avenue E
Oyen, Alberta   T0J 2J0
Tel: 403-664-3651

Medical services available in Special Area No. 3 are:

• Physicians
• Dentist
• Optometrist
• Chiropractor
• Physiotherapist
• Early prevention dental services
• Outpatient/inpatient respiratory services
• Speech therapist/audiologist
• Recreation therapist
• Mental health worker
• Home care

Acadia Foundation – Seniors Living
A 33-unit senior's lodge with a staff of 17 is also located in Oyen. The lodge provides individual bedroom/baths with communal eating and living areas. There are also 8 self contained units

Oyen Senior’s Lodge
310 – 2nd Street West
Oyen, Alberta T0J 2J0
Tel: 403- 664-3661
Fax: 403- 664-2964

Cereal Country Cottages
a seniors independent living apartment
Cereal, Alberta  T0J 2J0
Tel: 403- 326-3511

For more information

• Alberta Health Care Insurance - The Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) is a publicly administered and funded health care system that guarantees Albertans receive universal access to medically necessary hospital and medical services. AHCIP forms, information on premium and drug assistance, answers to common questions and more are available at this site.
• Alberta Health and Wellness –  Alberta’s Health and Wellness provides information about Alberta’s health care system including the forms needed for registration.
• Service Alberta – The Health Care Professional section of this Service Alberta site provides information for the wide variety of health professionals in Alberta – doctors, nurses, ambulance operators, and many others who provide services for the maintenance and improvement of health.  Use this page to learn about Alberta Netcare, to look up Health Professionals, to find contact information for nursing homes and hospitals in Alberta, and much, much more.
• Alberta Health Services  – Alberta Health Services provides a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.  Use this site to access information about specific health care facilities and to get the latest news relating to health care.
• Health Canada – The Health Canada site focuses on providing immigrants with information about health care coverage. It also contains good links to other helpful information on employment, health promotion, and more.

Community lifestyle is one of the most important factors when considering a move.  Sports, recreation, community involvement, cultural events, hospitality, and safety are just a few of the many reasons why people choose southeast Alberta as an excellent place to live.

Community Organizations

Local community and recreation organizations reflect the interests and passion of our communities.  From theatre groups, agricultural and historical societies, to Chamber of Commerce, youth groups, and service clubs, our communities deliver great events and services.

For complete listing of community organizations please visit www.samda.ca 

Recreation

Blood Indian Park
Phone: 403.779.2155
Location: 30 km south of Youngstown on Highway 884

Campsites /Rest stops

• Buffalo
• Esther
• Naco
• New Brigden
• Soakii RV Park

Community Halls

• New Brigden
• Sibbald
• Sedalia
• Chinook
• Lanfine
• Esther
• Cappon
• Big Stone

Curling Rinks

• New Brigden

Rodeo Grounds

• Big Stone

Outdoor Skating

• New Brigden
• Sibbald

Ball Diamonds

• Sibbald
• Esther
• New Brigden
• Big Stone
• Cappon

Our hamlets and communities offer a wide variety of events and attractions – for more info visit www.samda.ca.

For more information

• Service Alberta helps caregivers by providing information on resources available for persons or organizations that care for individuals who need support due to age, or physical or mental illness or disability.
• Service Alberta has information for parents on topics such as Alberta Centennial Education Savings Plan, Bully Free Alberta, and Passports for Children.  There is even a day care look-up at this site.
• Rural residents can obtain information specific to their needs through Service Alberta.  Here, rural residents can look for links to information and publications about the Rural Development Initiative, water wells, the weekly Agri-News, hunting licenses and more.
• Seniors can find links to the government information and services that apply to seniors, covering topics such as pensions, health care, retirement and more at this site.

• Arbortech
• Badger Daylighting and Hydrovac Services
• Bill Dalton Contracting
• Evergreen Environmental
• Excel Enterprises
• GLHM Pipleline Services
• Hayworth Mechanical
• Headlines Hair Design
• Jeff Cox Welding
• McKee Truck Lines
• Mellenium Oilfield Services
• Oyen Coop Convenience
• Oyen Super 8 Motel
• Paint Tech Autobody
• Patchvac Ltd
• Pioneer Grain
• Prairie House Kitchens
• Ralph Thornton Leatherworks
• Rangeland Real Estate
• Riley’s Bobcat Service
• Rumohr has it…we make signs
• Sedalia Coop
• Sedalia Steam & Pressure Truck Services
• Sibbald Inn
• Sparkman Welding
• Star West Oilfield Services & Trucking
• Studer Spraying Ltd.
• Stu’s Trucking
• Traget Airspray Ltd.
• Tera’s Hair Care
• Transcanda Pipleine
• Valley Flats Light Oilfield Hauling & Hotshot