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 Department. 911 Service.

Justice Infrastructure  - Provincial Court of Hanna

Parks and Recreation

• Playground
• Campground along the river
• Camp facilities for crew workers
• Curling Arena
• Hockey and Skating Arena
• Tennis Court
• Baseball Diamonds
• Friendship Center
• Community Hall

Religious Services

The Empress McNeill Memorial United Church

Family Worship Center  (Pentecostal Assembly Of Canada Church) – Tel:  403-565-3877

Library

The Empress Municipal Library is part of the Marigold Library System.

Residential property taxes are definitely a factor to consider when relocating. Although taxes vary depending on the community, Albertans pay low provincial and municipal taxes, overall, in Canada.

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 the Village of Empress include a fully equipped first aid unit on site or in town with certified Emergency Medical Responders (EMRs) and Community Health Services. A doctor travels to Empress to see patients one day per week.

An array of services is provided out of neighboring town of Oyen.

The 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:

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

Health professionals within Oyen include:

• 3 physicians
• 1 dentist
• 1 optometrist
• 1 chiropractor
• Physiotherapist
• Early prevention dental services
• Outpatient/inpatient respiratory services
• Speech therapist/audiologist
• Recreation therapist
• Health inspector
• Occupational therapy
• Mental health worker
• Massage therapist
• Home Care 

A senior’s lodge is also located in Oyen. The lodge provides individual bedrooms with communal eating and living areas. There are also self-contained units.

Oyen Senior’s Lodge
310 – 2nd Street West
Oyen AB  T0J 2J0
Phone:  (403) 664-3661
Fax:  (403) 664-2964

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.

Our rural community lifestyle is vibrant.

Community Organizations

Local community and recreation organizations reflect the interests and passion of our communities.   Our community delivers great events and services to our community. For artisans and musicians, we have craft club, knitting club, music lessons and artisans club. For others there is the Historical Society, Ag Society, Seniors Drop In Centre, United Christian Womens’ and a paint ball course.

For complete listing of Community Organizations please visit www.samda.ca

Religious Services

• Empress McNeill Memorial United Church is affiliated with the United Churches of Canada and located on Main Street.
• Family Worship Center is a Pentecostal Assembly of Canada Church.

Recreation

• Centennial Park Playground
• Campground/Camp Facilities along the river
• Agridome (Curling Arena)
• Hockey/Skating Arena
• Tennis Court
• Baseball Diamonds
• Friendship Centre (Seniors)
• Community Hall

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.

• Lori Campbell – Western Wishes – Online Clothing Retailer
• Farnden’s – Empress Rental and Restoration
• George and Irene McWilliams – Signage, Photography and Design  
• Brian Yanciw – Cabinetmaker and Carpentry
• Marshall Barclay – Contractor
• Lana Barclay – Rising Sun Wellness Center – Holistic Healing Center
• Lori Kelly – Health at Hand – Massage Therapist
• Bridgette Renaud – Equine Massage Therapy
• Vernon Evens – Empress Video Rental
• Joanna McDonald – Precision Nails
• Jim Campbell – Horse Shoeing and Hoof Trimming
• Laura O’Connor – Prairie Scene Scape – Photography
• Morrison Trucking
• Simmons Trucking
• Peers Trucking
• IW Kuhn
• Vortex

Click here to access the Village of Empress business directory.