Samples were collected from 14 cores and sections from the Alberta Foreland Basin in Canada. These proved impossible to process using standard micropalaeontology techniques. A thorough review of techniques was undertaken until a protocol was developed for chemically processing the hard shales using hydrofluoric acid.Using the acid digestion of the matrix excellent populations of ostracods were recovered from some sections. These represent the most complete assemblages yet recovered from these sequences. Several new species were recovered, including an enigmatic new limnocytherid now described as a new genus.A review of the possible biostratigraphy is presented and of the problems associated with this group of sediments.An integrated model is presented for the palaeoecology. This combines the palaeotopography, palaeocurrent data, palynology and the ostracod data. This model shows that the Aptian/Albian sediments deposited within the Alberta Foreland Basin are almost certainly diachronous and that the palaeoenvironment was dominated by the non-marine influence from the south, as opposed to the marine influence from the north.