A group of seven families in Saskatchewan is expressing rising frustration over a proposed AI data centre by Bell, situated in close proximity to their homes. Despite voicing their worries for several months, the residents have struggled to receive satisfactory responses from local authorities, raising questions about community engagement and governance.
Concerns Ignored
The families, who reside adjacent to the proposed site, have communicated their apprehensions regarding potential impacts on their quality of life and property values. In a letter addressed to the Rural Municipality (RM) of Sherwood, they stated, “At every stage of this process our concerns have been deferred, reduced, or ignored.” Although they are not outright opposing the project, their calls for clarity and reassurance have largely gone unanswered.
Doug McKell, whose family has deep roots in the area spanning nearly 150 years, articulated the frustrations felt by many. “Getting answers from the RM of Sherwood has been like pulling teeth. We have the governance system in place so that these kinds of concerns should be able to be handled through their regular process,” he remarked, highlighting the community’s discontent with the local administration’s approach.
Unanswered Requests
Between January and March 2026, the concerned residents submitted four formal requests to the RM, seeking binding agreements on critical issues such as noise control, lighting, drainage, storm-water management, groundwater protection, and roadway management. However, only the first submission, made on January 29, was made public, while the subsequent requests, submitted on February 8, February 17, and March 4, were not recorded on the RM’s website.
The lack of acknowledgment prompted McKell and others to escalate their concerns by filing a formal complaint with the Ombudsman on February 25. The RM’s agenda for the council meeting on March 16 indicated that the Ombudsman complaint was discussed, yet just two days later, four members of the council, including the Reeve and Deputy-Reeve, abruptly resigned without explanation.
New Council, New Hope
In a surprising turn of events, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Government Relations appointed former SARM president Ray Orb as Reeve on April 10, alongside the filling of other vacant council positions. This change in leadership has renewed hope among the residents. On March 25, the families submitted another letter to the RM, requesting a resolution to ensure their concerns were formally addressed.
On April 2, the RM posted an executive summary for a development agreement that seemingly acknowledged several of their issues. It promised to maintain sound levels consistent with existing ambient conditions and pledged to upgrade roadways at the developer’s expense, while ensuring lighting would comply with dark-sky standards.
However, the residents 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 wrote, insisting on measurable commitments and enforceable penalties for any non-compliance in the final agreement.
Engaging with the New Council
On April 14, the families met with the newly appointed RM council to voice their concerns directly. The meeting, attended by Dan Rink, President of Bell AI Fabric, reportedly left attendees feeling optimistic. McKell expressed a renewed sense of hope, stating, “I think moving forward, we’ll be able to work with this… they heard our issues and concerns, so that was positive.”
While no commitments were made during the meeting, the discussions appear to have fostered a cooperative spirit between the families and the new council members, as they prepare to review the proposed development agreement on April 20.
Why it Matters
The situation unfolding in Saskatchewan highlights the broader implications of community engagement in local governance, particularly as new technologies and developments emerge. The residents’ determination to seek binding commitments underscores the importance of ensuring that community voices are not only heard but respected in the face of corporate interests. As the dialogue continues, the outcome of this case could set a precedent for how similar projects are managed across Canada, balancing economic development with the rights and concerns of local residents.
