A group of seven families living near a proposed AI data centre in Saskatchewan has expressed ongoing frustration over their lack of communication with local authorities. Their concerns about property values and quality of life have largely gone unaddressed, raising questions about the governance and transparency of the RM of Sherwood council.
Local Families Voice Their Concerns
The families, who have resided in the vicinity for generations, have been actively seeking answers since Bell’s announcement about the data centre. In a letter addressed to the RM of Sherwood council, they articulated their discontent: “At every stage of this process our concerns have been deferred, reduced, or ignored.” While they do not oppose the project outright, they are anxious about the potential impacts it may have on their properties and daily lives.
Doug McKell, whose family has lived in the area for nearly 150 years, described the council’s responsiveness as unsatisfactory. “We have the governance system in place so that these kinds of concerns should be able to be handled through their regular process,” he lamented. “For them to ignore that and not deal with us in their normal fashion has left everyone in the area very frustrated.”
A Series of Unanswered Requests
From January to March 2026, the group submitted four formal requests to the RM of Sherwood, aiming to secure binding conditions regarding critical issues such as noise, lighting, drainage, and groundwater protection. However, only their initial submission on January 29 was acknowledged in the public records on the RM’s website. The subsequent requests were not posted, leaving the families feeling sidelined in the decision-making process.
As their concerns went unanswered, the group escalated the matter by lodging a formal complaint with the Ombudsman on February 25. An agenda from a council meeting held on March 16 indicates that both the Code of Ethics and the Ombudsman Complaint were topics of discussion. Shortly thereafter, a significant shake-up occurred within the council, with four out of seven members, including the Reeve and Deputy-Reeve, resigning without explanation.
Changes in Leadership and a Glimmer of Hope
Following the resignations, the province’s Ministry of Government Relations appointed Ray Orb, a former president of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM), as the new Reeve. Additional council members were also appointed to fill the vacancies.
On March 25, the residents submitted yet another letter, requesting a formal resolution that would ensure the inclusion of specific binding conditions. Just a week later, an executive summary for a proposed development agreement was made public by the RM. This document appeared to address some of the concerns raised by the community, promising to maintain sound levels at the property boundary consistent with existing conditions and to handle lighting issues with dark-sky-compliant fixtures.
However, the families remain sceptical. “A good faith process is not the same as a binding obligation,” the residents asserted in their letter to the RM. They are advocating for enforceable commitments and penalties for non-compliance to be included in the final development agreement.
A Positive Meeting with New Council
On April 14, the group met with the newly appointed council members to discuss their concerns. Many attendees left the meeting feeling optimistic, as the council appeared receptive to their issues. Dan Rink, President of Bell AI Fabric, presented information that was well-received, contributing to a more hopeful atmosphere.
“I think moving forward, we’ll be able to work with this,” McKell reflected after the meeting. “I think they heard our issues and concerns, so that was positive.” However, no formal commitments were made, and the community remains anxious to see whether their requests for binding conditions will be integrated into the development agreement, which is scheduled for review on April 20.
Why it Matters
The situation in Sherwood sheds light on the critical balance between technological advancement and community welfare. As the demand for AI data centres grows, it is imperative that local governments prioritise transparency and responsiveness to citizen concerns. Ensuring that development agreements include firm, enforceable commitments will not only protect the rights and quality of life of local residents but also set a precedent for future projects, fostering a more collaborative relationship between corporations and communities.