The service area of our region is located in the far Northwestern corner of Alberta, Canada, with long distances between small population centres and some areas accessible only by airplane. This area is roughly the size of New Brunswick. It is over 116, 000 sq kms, bound by the NWT border 191 km to the North, the B.C. border to the west, the farming community of Keg River to the south and the communities of John D'or Prairie, Fox Lake and Garden River to the east. Our inland location is approximately 800 kms north of Edmonton and serves a market area of about 22,000 people.

The economy of the region is strong, built on the forestry, petroleum, gas, and agriculture industries. The demographics of our region are highlighted by diversity and rapid change. This area has one of the lowest population densities in Alberta, but the annual growth rate exceeds that of the provincial average by 50%. The oldest community in Alberta, Fort Vermillion, is east on Hwy. 58. Rainbow Lake and Zama experience growth from the development of massive reserves of oil and natural gas. 23 percent of our population speaks neither English nor French as a first language (2001 census) and 22 percent of the residents are Aboriginal.

Our particular geography, economics and demographics significantly influence our work to lower the incidence of FASD throughout the region.