Sherwood approves Bell AI data centre expansion amid protests

The Rural Municipality of Sherwood unanimously approved final bylaw readings Thursday to rezone 895 more acres from agricultural to light industrial for Bell Canada's AI data centre expansion outside Regina. The land joins Bell's development agreement for a planned 1.2-gigawatt campus. Dan Rink, president of AI Fabric at Bell Canada, said the municipal hurdle is cleared, though a provincial environmental impact study is still required. Protesters gathered outside as speakers raised environmental, consultation and scale concerns. Bell projects construction and operations jobs plus local property taxes if expansion proceeds, with first halls expected online in spring 2027 if demand holds.