Local residents and protesters are demonstrating against a proposed Bell Canada AI data centre in the Rural Municipality of Sherwood Park, outside Regina [1, 2].
The opposition highlights a growing tension between the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure and the sustainability of local natural resources. Critics said these facilities place an unsustainable burden on the power grid and water supplies.
Protesters returned to the Rural Municipality of Sherwood Park on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, to voice their opposition [1]. The group said there was a lack of community consultation regarding the project's development [2, 3]. Concerns center on the high volume of electricity and water required to cool and operate large-scale AI data centres [2, 3].
Similar resistance has appeared elsewhere in Canada. Nearly 200 people gathered at the provincial legislature in Regina on Saturday, June 15, 2024, to protest the project [2]. In a separate movement, 750 people marched through downtown Vancouver to protest AI data centres backed by Telus [4].
The scale of these demonstrations suggests that the environmental footprint of AI is becoming a primary point of contention for rural and urban communities alike. Residents in Sherwood Park continue to call for more transparency, and a thorough review of the project's impact on the local ecosystem [1, 2].
“Protesters cite lack of community consultation and concerns about the water and electricity consumption”
These protests reflect a broader North American trend where the physical requirements of AI—specifically massive energy and water needs—are colliding with local environmental protections and community autonomy. As tech companies seek rural land for data hubs, the lack of standardized consultation frameworks is fueling public backlash.
