Opportunity No. 17Alberta

TownGrade

D⁻

#2,502 of 2,556

A town of 3,592 in Alberta. It lies in Division No. 17.

Photo: Shogged · CC BY-SA 4.0

Population

3,592

people, 2025 estimate

Median age

31.2

years · Alberta’s towns: 40.8

Postsecondary

29%

of residents 15 and over hold a postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree · Canadian towns: 56%

Walk, cycle, transit

walk, cycle or take transit to work · Canadian towns: 8%

Is Opportunity No. 17 a good place to live?

More weak spots than strong ones. Its weakest subject is schools (D−). Overall, Opportunity No. 17 earns a D−: better than 5% of Canadian towns, and #463 of 473 in Alberta. Homes are affordable (A). Crime is the sore point (D−). It also trails on health (D−). Natural hazards weigh more here (D−).

This town's rent is the 2021 census rent scaled to 2025 by its province's ratio of surveyed to census rents: no rental survey covers it, so its Cost Grade is less sure. Safety is the police detachment's figure, shared with the towns and countryside around it. Health is graded on the health region's survey figures and life expectancy, with the distance to hospital giving the town its own spread. Wildfire lowers this town's Hazard risk Grade: a high share of the land around it has burned in the last 40 years.

StrongestACost of livingWeakestD⁻Schools D⁻Safety

How Opportunity No. 17 grades

Each subject compares Opportunity No. 17 with Canadian towns of 2,500 or more, ordered by how far it is from the middle. Towns in other countries are graded separately.

How grading works

SchoolsBased on how pupils do in exams and testsD⁻Open →SafetyCrime runs among the highest comparedD⁻Open →HealthIn the bottom fifth of the towns comparedD⁻Open →Hazard riskGraded on earthquake risk and radon, with high wildfire risk able to lower itD⁻Open →Cost of livingHomes are very affordable for local incomesAOpen →WalkabilityBehind most towns comparedC⁺Open →Jobs & incomeBased on what households earn, poverty and workB⁻Open →

How TownRatings grades Canadian towns →

What makes Opportunity No. 17 stand out

The 3 things Opportunity No. 17 does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree

Education

29% have a postsecondary qualification

Half of Canadian towns are above 56%, half below

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

Home value ÷ household income

Housing

2.3 times household income

The middle of Canadian towns: 4.7 times

Median owner’s estimate $200,000, Census 2021; income for 2020.

Schools

Behind 99%

of Canadian towns on schools

Its schools grade: D−.

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Opportunity No. 17.

SchoolsSchools D⁻

The 3 schools of Opportunity No. 17: 1 elementary school, 1 secondary school and 1 school for every grade

3schools within 3 kmD⁻Schools Grade

From the town centre, high school starts 5.2 km away, above both Alberta’s towns (0.7 km) and Canadian towns (1.2 km). Elementary school is 2.5 km away at the nearest, higher than both Alberta’s towns (0.5 km) and Canadian towns (0.5 km).

School	Level	Students	System
St. Theresa School Bottom fifth in AlbertaLargest elementary schoolElementary · Grades K–6	Elementary · Grades K–6	205	English public
Mistassiniy School Bottom fifth in AlbertaLargest secondary schoolSecondary · Grades 7–12	Secondary · Grades 7–12	233	English public

See all 3 schools →

Schools within 3 km	Opportunity No. 17	Alberta	Canada
Nearest secondary school	5.2 km	0.7 km	1.2 km
Nearest elementary school	2.5 km	0.5 km	0.5 km

451

students at the schools within 3 km, 2025/26

5.2 km

to the nearest secondary school

2.5 km

to the nearest elementary school

Full pageOpportunity No. 17’s schools pageOpen the full Schools page

Every school3 schools within 3 km · 1 elementary school, 1 secondary school and 1 school for every grade Results0 of 2 in the top two fifths · of the schools with results, placed against every school in Alberta Language0 of 3 teach in French · 2% of schools in Alberta Questions“What schools are there in Opportunity No. 17?”

Provincial school lists and results, 2025/26

SafetySafety D⁻

The force covering Opportunity No. 17 records more serious violence than Alberta’s towns or Canadian towns, at 602

495Crime Severity Index

The index for the force that serves it came to 495, above both Alberta’s towns (110) and Canadian towns (67). For every 1,000 residents of its police area, 103.1 violent incidents are reported each year. In addition, its police area records 182.5 property incidents per 1,000 residents a year.

Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year

2023382

2024521

2025583

2023–2025	Opportunity No. 17	Alberta	Canada
Crime Severity Index	495	110	67
Violent Crime Severity Index	602	109	86
Violent crime	103.1	14.2	12
Property crime per 1,000	182.5	45	31.2

456

non-violent Crime Severity Index

41%

of incidents cleared, 2023–25

Full pageOpportunity No. 17’s safety reportOpen the full Safety report

Safety495 Crime Severity Index · The index weighs each crime Opportunity No. 17’s police recorded by how serious it is.Questions“Is Opportunity No. 17 safe?”

Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average · Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000: one figure for all of the Red Earth Creek detachment area

HealthHealth D⁻

For health, Opportunity No. 17 sits behind 98% of Canadian towns

48%very good or excellent healthD⁻Health Grade

The average trip from home to a hospital is 112 km, higher than both Alberta’s towns (3.1 km) and Canadian towns (3.7 km). The region has more smokers than Alberta, 17% of adults to 11%. Across the region, 48% of adults say their health is very good or excellent; Alberta as a whole reaches 53%. Statistics Canada puts the region’s life expectancy at 78.3, women 80.9 and men 76.1 (2022/2024). Opportunity No. 17 doesn’t get its own health survey and life expectancy figures; the ones here come from the North Zone.

Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised

Opportunity No. 1748%

Alberta’s towns51%

Canadian towns52%

Health	Opportunity No. 17	Alberta	Canada
Chronic conditions (average share)	21%	18%	17%
Smokers	17%	12%	12%
Life expectancy at birth	78.3	81.2	81.5
Very good or excellent health	48%	51%	52%

78.3

years of life expectancy, 2022/2024

112 km

from homes to a hospital, on average

17%

of adults smoke, age-standardised

115 km

from homes to a pharmacy, on average

Full pageOpportunity No. 17’s health pageOpen the full Health page

Health survey48% very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised Getting care112 km to a hospital · A pharmacy 115 km away on average The wider areaLife expectancy: women 80.9, men 76.1 Conditions and habits21% with chronic conditions · adults, age-standardised

Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities

Natural hazardsHazard risk D⁻

Hazard risk in Opportunity No. 17 is higher than in 96% of Canadian towns

Highwildfire bandD⁻Hazard risk Grade

Of the homes tested for radon, 9.6% were over 200 Bq/m³, higher than both Alberta’s towns (7.5%) and Canadian towns (6.6%). Fire is a regular visitor: 13% of the land within 25 km of Opportunity No. 17 has burned since 1986 (0.31% a year). Seismic risk runs low: $0.004 of expected damage per $1,000 of buildings a year, the typical town $0.030. Figures for radon tests are published for the Aspen Regional Health Authority as a whole, not for Opportunity No. 17 alone.

Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³

Opportunity No. 179.6%

Alberta’s towns7.5%

Canadian towns6.6%

Hazards	Opportunity No. 17	Alberta	Canada
Radon tests above the guideline	9.6%	7.5%	6.6%
Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year	$0.004	$0.013	$0.030

$0.004

expected earthquake loss a year per $1,000 of buildings

High

wildfire band

0.2 km

to the nearest land burned since 1986

Full pageOpportunity No. 17’s flood & hazards pageOpen the full Flood & hazards page

WildfireHigh wildfire band · 13% of the land within 25 km burned since 1986 FloodNo flood study on record Earthquakes$0.004 a year per $1,000 · Canadian towns: $0.030 Radon9.6% of tests above the guideline Be readyAlerts, FireSmart and radon tests

NRCan seismic risk model and burned areas, Health Canada radon survey, the Flood Hazard Map Inventory

HousingCost of living A

Rent takes less of local pay in Opportunity No. 17 than in Alberta’s towns or Canadian towns: 15% of household income

$200,000median home value, 2021ACost of living Grade

65% of households own their home. Shelter took 30% or more of income for 9% of households, below Alberta’s towns (21%) and Canadian towns (18%) alike.

What homes were worth · The median owner’s estimate at the 2021 census

Opportunity No. 17$200,000

Alberta$400,000

Canadian towns$406,000

Census 2021	Opportunity No. 17	Alberta	Canada
Households spending 30%+ on shelter	9%	21%	18%
Rent as a share of income	15%	20%	20%
Households owning their home	65%	74%	74%

$910

monthly rent for a two-bedroom

$900

median monthly shelter cost for owners, 2021

Full pageOpportunity No. 17’s cost of living pageOpen the full Cost of living page

Renting$910 a month · The median rent at the 2021 census Cost of living2.3 times household income · The median owner’s estimate, $200,000, against the median household income Owners and renters65% own their home

Statistics Canada, Census 2021; CMHC Rental Market Survey via Statistics Canada · These are 2021 census values, as owners judged them, set against household income in 2020.

Who lives here

A town of families: 28% of people in Opportunity No. 17 are under 15, more than in Alberta’s towns or Canadian towns

31.2median age

11% of residents have reached 65. First Nations, Métis and Inuit people make up 81% of residents, higher than both Alberta’s towns (4.6%) and Canadian towns (2.8%).

Opportunity No. 17AlbertaCanada

AlbertaCanada

Ages · Share of residents in each age group, Census 2021

28%

Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over

No certificate, diploma or degree49%

Postsecondary qualification29%

Women and men · all residents

49.6% of Opportunity No. 17’s residents are women

Of the 2021 count, 1,680 were women and 1,705 men (women across Canada: 50.9%).

Who lives in Opportunity No. 17
	Opportunity No. 17	Alberta	Canada
Under 15	28%	18%	16%
15 to 64	62%	67%	64%
65+	11%	15%	19%
No certificate, diploma or degree	49%	15%	16%
Postsecondary qualification	29%	54%	56%

Full pageOpportunity No. 17’s Who lives here pageOpen the full Who lives here page

Ages31.2 median age · 11% are 65 or over Households1,075 households · 3.1 people per household Immigrants3% are immigrants · 5% belong to a visible minority English and French1% speak both · 0% speak French but not English

Statistics Canada, Census 2021; Alberta and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+

Climate

Summers stay cool in Opportunity No. 17: July afternoons reach 21.8°C, below Alberta’s towns and Canadian towns

21.8°CJuly afternoons

Snowfall adds up to 93 cm a year, below both Alberta’s towns (127 cm) and Canadian towns (141 cm). In January, overnight lows in Opportunity No. 17 settle at −18.2°C. Frost usually lifts by 26 May and returns around 16 September: 112 days without it. For the wettest month, look to July: 77 mm on average.

Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

Winter−6.8°C

Spring8.3°C

Summer20.8°C

Autumn7.6°C

Normals, 1991–2020	Opportunity No. 17	Alberta	Canada
July afternoon high	21.8°C	23.5°C	25.5°C
Precipitation a year	422 mm	431 mm	883 mm
January night low	−18.2°C	−14.7°C	−13.5°C
Days with frost a year	202	193	159

93 cm

of snow a year

202

days with frost a year

112

frost-free days, 26 May to 16 Sep

days with precipitation a year

Full pageOpportunity No. 17’s climate pageOpen the full Climate page

The yearJuly highs 21.8°C, January lows −18.2°C Rain and snow422 mm a year · Canadian towns: 883 mm Snow93 cm of snow a year Weather station97 km to the station · Slave Lake

Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Slave Lake)

Weather

Expect November days around −1°C in Opportunity No. 17, nights around −10°C

−1°Ca normal November afternoon

Looking ahead to December, expect highs near −7°C and lows near −17°C. Expect about 19 mm of rain and snow over November. Over the year, July is warmest at 22°C by day and January coldest at −18°C by night. Hour-by-hour figures come from ECCC’s Slave Lake forecast, on the Weather page.

Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

November−1°C

December−7°C

January−8°C

February−5°C

Season	High	Low	Rain and snow
Winter	−7°C	−17°C	48 mm
Spring	8°C	−4°C	77 mm
Summer	21°C	10°C	209 mm
Autumn	8°C	−2°C	89 mm

−10°C

a normal November night

19 mm

of rain and snow in a normal November

Full pageOpportunity No. 17’s weather pageOpen the full Weather page

Next 24 hoursTemperature and chance of rain, hour by hour The week aheadECCC’s days ahead, beside the normals The yearWarmest July, coldest January

ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Slave Lake); the forecast is on the Weather page

Library & civic lifeCivic life grade B

Wabasca Public Library lends 1 items per person served, fewer than 96% of Alberta’s town libraries

The 3,181 people Wabasca Public Library serves have 3 branches to choose from.

Full pageOpportunity No. 17’s library & civic life pageOpen the full Library & civic life page

A year at the library2.9 visits per person served Places to belong0 charities per 1,000 residents

Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada

Work & commuteJobs & income B⁻

Commuters in Opportunity No. 17 have a short way to work, 19 min on average, less than in Alberta’s towns and Canadian towns

7%walk, cycle or take transit

92% of commuters drove, above Alberta’s towns (88%) and Canadian towns (89%) alike.

How working residents got to work · census 2021

Car or van92%

Walk6%

Public transit1%

Census 2021	Opportunity No. 17	Alberta	Canada
Average trip	19 min	26 min	26 min
Car or van	92%	88%	89%

$89,000

median household income, 2020

worked from home, May 2021

63%

of commuters work inside the municipality

Full pageOpportunity No. 17’s work & commute pageOpen the full Work & commute page

Unemployment18% unemployed · Of the labour force · Canadian towns: 9.9%Getting to work7% walk, cycle or take transit Where people commute to225 commuters · The biggest flow out: to Wabasca 166A

Statistics Canada, Census 2021 (labour and commuting) · These are May 2021 figures, gathered while COVID-19 kept many people home or out of work.

Outdoors

Step out of Opportunity No. 17 into Calling Lake Provincial Park

2%of the land within 10 km protected

Within 5 km lie 57 beaches, unnamed on the map. For a national park, Wood Buffalo National Park is 76 km away. Protected areas open to the public, within 10 km of the town: 7, above Alberta’s towns (2) and Canadian towns (4) alike.

Protected land · of the land within 10 km

Opportunity No. 172%

Alberta’s towns0.4%

Canadian towns2.3%

Outdoors	Opportunity No. 17	Alberta	Canada
Public protected areas within 10 km	7	2	4
Protected land within 10 km	2%	0.4%	2.3%

76 km

to Wood Buffalo National Park

At the edge

to Calling Lake Provincial Park

beaches within 5 km

public protected areas within 10 km

Full pageOpportunity No. 17’s outdoors pageOpen the full Outdoors page

Protected landof the land within 10 km Protected areas7 protected areas within 10 km · Birch River Wildland Provincial Park National & provincial parks76 km to a national park · Wood Buffalo National Park

Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches

History

Heritage in Opportunity No. 17

1.4%built before 1961

Older housing, built before 1961, accounts for 1.4% of homes, below Alberta’s towns (4.5%) and Canadian towns (18%) alike.

1.4%

of homes built before 1961 · Canadian towns 18%

Heritage	Opportunity No. 17	Alberta	Canada
Homes built before 1961	1.4%	4.5%	18%

Full pageOpportunity No. 17’s history pageOpen the full History page

Older homes1.4% built before 1961 · Canadian towns: 18%Questions“How many historic places does Opportunity No. 17 have?”

Canadian Register of Historic Places, Directory of Federal Heritage Designations, Québec’s Répertoire du patrimoine culturel, Wikidata; Census 2021 homes by period

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Opportunity No. 17

15pages on Opportunity No. 17

The big questions

SafetyD⁻Crime Severity Index 495 Housing & costAHomes 2.3 × income Property pricesSchoolsD⁻3 schools within 3 km HealthD⁻Life expectancy 78.3 in its region Work & commuteB⁻50% of adults in work Natural hazardsD⁻Wildfire band: high

Out and about

Outdoors2% of the land within 10 km protected AttractionsClimateJuly afternoons around 22°C WeatherECCC’s forecast, beside the normals

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 31.2 HistoryTown hallFamous people

About Opportunity No. 17

Town in Alberta

The boundary here is Statistics Canada’s: Opportunity No. 17 is one census subdivision in Alberta, and TownRatings describes all of it.

Statistics Canada: population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155), Census of Population 2021, 2021 census boundaries.

Population: 3,592 (people, 2025 estimate)
Province or territory: Alberta
Census division: Division No. 17
Census subdivision: 4817031

Questions about Opportunity No. 17

Is Opportunity No. 17 growing?

It grew from 3,253 people in 2016 to 3,382 in 2021, up 4%; the median of Canadian towns grew 4.1%. StatCan’s 2025 estimate is 3,592.

What kind of homes are in Opportunity No. 17?

Single-detached houses make up 66% of the homes here, where Canadian towns sit at 64%; 0% are in high-rise apartments. 23% of households are one person, and the average is 3.1.

Sources: Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021 · population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155) and 2021 census boundaries · Uniform Crime Reporting Survey 2023–25 (35-10-0026, 35-10-0183 to 35-10-0190) · CMHC rents as published by Statistics Canada (34-10-0133) · grades by TownRatings. Under the Statistics Canada Open Licence.

Adapted from Statistics Canada (Census of Population 2021, population estimates 2025, 2021 census boundaries) under the Statistics Canada Open Licence; this does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada. Neighbourhood names in some cities © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).