I CAN compare how local governments are structured in rural and urban areas.
I CAN describe the differences between municipal districts, counties, cities, towns, and villages.
What do you think is different about living in a city versus a small town?
How do you think their governments might be different?
Jot down your thoughts for 2 minutes.
Pair up and share ideas with a partner for 2 minutes.
Volunteers share insights with the class (1 minute).
Vocabulary
Councillor - A person elected to help make decisions and create bylaws for a local government, working with the mayor.
County - A large rural area made up of smaller communities, managed by a local government that provides services like roads and public safety.
Hamlet - A very small community, usually in a rural area, with only a few homes and businesses but no formal government.
Mayor - The leader of a town or city, chosen by the people in an election, who helps make decisions for the community.
Municipal district - A rural area in Alberta that has its own local government to manage things like roads, services, and rules for the community.
Reeve - The leader of a municipal district or county, chosen by the councillors, similar to a mayor but for rural areas.
Rural - A place with fewer people and more open spaces, like farms or small communities, usually found in the countryside.
Urban - A place with lots of people and buildings, like a city, town, or village, where homes, businesses, and services are close together.
I CAN compare how local governments are structured in rural and urban areas.
Includes
cities
towns
villages
Includes:
municipal districts
rural municipalities
Counties
Elected Officials
One mayor - elected by citizens
Councilors - elected by citizens
One reeve - a councilor elected by the council
Councilors - elected by citizens
With a partner, you will record similarities and differences between urban and rural responsibilities. When we have finished, we will go over the answers together so you can record them in your notes.
Why do you think urban governments provide public transit, but rural areas might not?"
What challenges do you think a rural government might face when managing roads and infrastructure for a larger area?
How might the services needed in a city be different from those in a small town?
Think about a place like Calgary or Edmonton. What kinds of services do you think they offer compared to a small village like Stirling?
Help students think about local examples in Alberta that they may be familiar with.
List two differences between rural and urban local governments and one similarity they share