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Welcome to the Municipal District of Opportunity, where opportunity is more than just part of our name: it's written into the very landscape.

As the third largest Alberta municipality in geographical size, the Municipal District of Opportunity has lots of room for exploration, adventure, and initiative. Indeed, the region has experienced remarkable growth in business, recreational facilities, and residential housing over the past few years.

Rich in natural resources, this region of 3.14 million hectares has welcomed major development within the petroleum and forestry industries, and shows intriguing potential in diamond mining and tourism.

From the lushly forested countryside, dotted with picturesque communities, to the pristine waters of North and South Wabasca Lakes, Peerless and Trout Lakes, Calling and Rock Island Lake, people of the M.D. of Opportunity harbor an affinity for the land bred of a dependence on its bounty.

Six out of seven communities are along lakeshores, what other area can boast that! Fishing, hunting, outdoor recreation are just a few past times we take advantage of year round.

Ice Ridge on North Wabasca Lake - January 2012
This picture was taken of a ice ridge that formed around the Ice Shacks on North Wabasca Lake, January 2012 by K. Zufelt

More than 5400 people inhabit the area, including some 2,000 residents of the Bigstone Cree Nation Reserves.

The largest hamlet is Wabasca/Desmarais, with a population of about 3,300, split between M.D. residents and Bigstone Cree Nation members. Located on the narrows between North and South Wabasca Lakes, Wabasca/Desmarais serves as the headquarters for the Municipal District of Opportunity and Bigstone Cree Nation, as well as for some provincial government area-offices.

Other communities under M.D. administration include the hamlets of Calling Lake, Red Earth Creek, and Sandy Lake, and the settlements of Chipewyan Lake, Peerless Lake, and Trout Lake. All communities have benefited from numerous infrastructure improvements in recent years.

Brimming with cultural and historical treasures, the place and its peoples are a mesmerizing mix of past achievements, present activity, and future possibilities.