A group of seven families residing near the site earmarked for Bell’s new AI data centre in Saskatchewan has expressed their frustration after months of unanswered questions and concerns regarding the project. While they are not outright opposed to the development, the families are anxious about its potential impact on their quality of life and property values. Despite a series of formal requests to the local council, their inquiries have largely gone unaddressed, leading to escalating tensions within the community.
Community Concerns Ignored
The landowners have voiced their grievances in a letter addressed to the council of the Rural Municipality (RM) of Sherwood, stating, “At every stage of this process our concerns have been deferred, reduced, or ignored.” Doug McKell, a representative of the group and a resident of the area for nearly 150 years, has likened the process to “pulling teeth,” indicating a profound sense of frustration with the governance system designed to handle such issues.
“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. “And for them to ignore that and not deal with us in their normal fashion, everybody in the area is very frustrated with that.”
Unanswered Questions and Formal Complaints
Between January and March 2026, the group submitted four formal requests to the RM of Sherwood, seeking binding commitments on various issues including noise management, lighting, drainage, storm-water handling, and groundwater protection. Despite their efforts, only the first submission, made on January 29, was recorded publicly, while the subsequent requests went unacknowledged.
In response to the lack of action, McKell and his neighbours escalated their complaints to the Ombudsman on February 25, aiming to draw attention to their concerns. On March 16, a council meeting agenda indicated that the Ombudsman complaint was under discussion, but the situation took an unexpected turn two days later when four out of seven council members, including both the Reeve and Deputy-Reeve, resigned without explanation.
New Council, New Hope
Amidst the upheaval, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Government Relations appointed former SARM president Ray Orb as the new Reeve, alongside three other councillors to fill the vacancies. This change in leadership has brought a sense of renewed optimism among the landowners. On March 25, they submitted another letter requesting a formal resolution to incorporate binding conditions into the development agreement.
Their efforts bore some fruit on April 2 when an executive summary for the development agreement was posted online, seemingly addressing several of their concerns. The document promised to maintain sound levels at property boundaries and ensure roadway upgrades would be financed by the developer. However, the landowners remain cautious, asserting that promises without binding obligations are insufficient.
A Meeting of Minds
On April 14, the landowners met with the newly appointed council members to discuss their concerns directly. Reports from the meeting indicate that the residents felt heard and acknowledged, particularly appreciating the presentation given by Dan Rink, President of Bell AI Fabric.
McKell expressed a sense of hope post-meeting, stating, “I think moving forward, we’ll be able to work with this… I think they heard our issues and concerns, so that was positive.” Still, no commitments were made during the discussion, leaving uncertainty about whether their demands for enforceable conditions will be included in the forthcoming development agreement review on April 20.
Why it Matters
The ongoing situation highlights a broader issue in community engagement and transparency in local governance. As technology companies increasingly seek to establish data centres in rural areas, the need for clear communication and binding agreements becomes paramount. The residents’ struggle reflects a growing concern that, without adequate oversight and commitment from developers, local communities could bear the brunt of developments that alter their landscapes and lifestyles, reinforcing the necessity for accountable governance in the face of corporate expansion.
