A group of seven families residing near a proposed AI data centre in Saskatchewan is voicing their concerns over the lack of communication from local authorities. After months of inquiries about how the project may affect their lives and property values, the residents are growing increasingly frustrated by the absence of concrete answers from the RM of Sherwood council.
Concerns about Community Impact
The families, whose ties to the land date back generations, are not outright opposing the development but are anxious about its potential repercussions on their quality of life. Doug McKell, whose family has lived in the area for nearly 150 years, expressed the difficulty of obtaining straightforward responses from local governance. “We have the governance system in place so that these kinds of concerns should be able to be handled through their regular process,” McKell stated. “To ignore that and not engage with us in their usual manner has left everyone in the area feeling very frustrated.”
Despite their persistent efforts, the landowners have encountered significant hurdles in communicating with the RM of Sherwood. Between January and March 2026, the group submitted four formal requests concerning essential issues such as noise, lighting, drainage, storm-water management, groundwater protection, and road maintenance. Regrettably, only their first submission, dated January 29, found its way onto the public record, with subsequent requests going unacknowledged.
A Shift in Local Governance
As the residents sought answers, their frustrations culminated in a formal complaint to the Ombudsman on February 25. This prompted the RM of Sherwood council to discuss the complaint during a meeting on March 16. However, just two days later, four out of seven council members, including both the Reeve and Deputy-Reeve, resigned suddenly, leaving the community in a state of uncertainty.
In response to the upheaval, the provincial Ministry of Government Relations appointed former SARM president Ray Orb as the new Reeve, alongside Mitch Huber, Donna Strudwick, and Judy Harwood filling the vacant council positions. The shake-up has led to hopes that the new council will be more receptive to the residents’ concerns.
A Glimmer of Hope
On March 25, the group submitted another letter to the RM, requesting a formal resolution that would enforce specific binding conditions regarding the development. A week later, an executive summary of a development agreement was finally posted online, appearing to address some of the residents’ concerns, particularly regarding noise control and roadway upgrades.
The document promises to maintain sound levels in line with existing ambient conditions and ensures that infrastructure improvements will be funded by the developer. However, the landowners remain cautious. “A good faith process is not the same as a binding obligation and we cannot accept one in place of the other,” they remarked in a letter to the RM, emphasising the need for enforceable commitments.
In an encouraging turn of events, the group met with the newly appointed council on April 14 to discuss their ongoing concerns. The residents left the meeting feeling optimistic, as they believed the council was genuinely listening to them, aided by a presentation from Dan Rink, President of Bell AI Fabric. McKell noted, “I think moving forward, we’ll be able to work with this… they heard our issues and concerns, so that was positive.”
Despite the progress made in discussions, the final development agreement, set for review on April 20, remains to be seen, and it is still unclear if binding conditions will be included.
Why it Matters
The situation in Saskatchewan underscores a crucial tension between technological advancement and community wellbeing. As local residents navigate the challenges posed by the proposed AI data centre, their experience highlights the importance of transparent communication and accountability in development projects. The outcome of this case could serve as a benchmark for future interactions between communities and developers, especially in regions where residents are deeply connected to their land and its heritage. The successful integration of binding commitments could pave the way for a more harmonious balance between innovation and environmental stewardship.