Bell Canada and Saskatchewan officials are driving rapid construction of a $1.7-billion, 300-megawatt AI data centre southeast of Regina, with framing completed for three of four data halls and the first phase expected to be operational in the first half of 2027.

The project aims to expand to about 1.2 gigawatts and roughly $52 billion in investment over time, potentially including a dedicated natural gas plant, though no expansion timeline has been set.

The site currently employs around 500 workers, with plans to grow as the facility scales significantly.

Public opposition focuses on environmental and electricity-grid concerns plus calls for more robust public consultation, including town halls and a moratorium until meaningful engagement occurs.

Officials argue the expansion would boost regional economics and talent retention, while the Regina mayor emphasizes potential growth and innovation benefits.

Power arrangements hinge on SaskPower supplying 300 megawatts and Bell supplying the remaining 900 megawatts, with possible future gas-generation plans but no location timeline yet.

The data centre uses a closed-loop cooling system and asserts it will not draw groundwater, with Bell pledging no increases in resident power rates.

The 65-hectare site in the RM of Sherwood hosts six data halls planned, with long-term expansion to 1.2 gigawatts and a broader investment that positions Saskatchewan for its largest private investment ever.

Anchor tenants for the initial phase include CoreWeave and Cerebras, with the first two data halls expected to begin operation in the coming year.

Bell signs on CoreWeave and Cerebras as anchors and plans to quadruple the facility size, while establishing Bell AI Fabric headquarters in Regina and pursuing a partnership with the University of Regina on research, including heat capture for greenhouses.

Construction activity involves more than 500 workers at the site at any given time, with projections of creating thousands of regional off-site and community jobs.

Critics, including Saskatchewan's NDP, call for a broader public consultation and a temporary halt on data-centre projects, but government officials say elected representatives reflect broad local support.