Bell Canada has unveiled plans to construct what it says will be the largest artificial intelligence data centre in Canada, with construction scheduled to begin this spring just outside Regina. The $1.7 billion project marks a major investment in the country’s growing AI infrastructure and is expected to significantly boost the regional economy.
CEO Mirko Bibic described the project as a historic milestone for the company, emphasizing its scale and long-term impact. The facility is projected to generate approximately $12 billion in economic activity for Saskatchewan, while creating around 800 construction jobs and 80 permanent positions once operations begin, currently targeted for 2027.
The data centre will be part of Bell’s broader AI initiative, known as Bell AI Fabric, which aims to establish sovereign computing infrastructure across Canada. The Regina site will operate as a high-capacity 300-megawatt facility, with planned partnerships involving major AI firms such as Cerebras and CoreWeave.
Support from the provincial government has been key to the project’s development. Scott Moe highlighted the province’s available energy capacity as a major advantage, stating that Saskatchewan is well-positioned to support large-scale computing operations. The facility will be built near an existing SaskPower substation to ensure reliable energy supply.
Concerns around power usage and water consumption have been raised by the local community, given the scale of AI infrastructure. Bell officials addressed these issues by outlining a water-efficient, closed-loop cooling system that avoids using municipal water supplies. Instead, the facility will rely on specialized technical water and private storage systems, aiming to reduce environmental strain.
The project also includes a partnership with George Gordon First Nation, creating opportunities for Indigenous participation in construction and long-term development. Leadership from the First Nation has expressed strong interest in playing a significant role in the project’s economic benefits and workforce involvement.
With additional land already secured for future expansion, the Regina data centre represents a major step in Canada’s push toward building domestic AI capacity. As demand for computing power continues to surge globally, projects like this are expected to play a critical role in shaping the country’s technological and economic future.
