Bell is moving ahead with the early construction phases of its 300-megawatt Bell AI Fabric data centre near Regina, engaging a group of Saskatchewan and regional contractors to begin work on what the company says will become Canada’s largest purpose-built AI data centre.
The facility, located in the Rural Municipality of Sherwood just outside Regina, represents Bell’s largest-ever investment in Saskatchewan. Early site work began on April 21, one day after the municipality approved the project’s development agreement, with the first data hall expected to come online in the first half of 2027.
Bell says the multi-phase project is projected to generate up to $12 billion in long-term economic value and support at least 800 construction, engineering, and technical jobs, including roles for equipment operators, concrete and steel trades, engineers, and project managers.
The company framed this week’s contractor announcement as part of a broader effort to ensure the economic benefits of AI infrastructure flow into the province where the facility is being built. Many of the firms selected for the early work are based in Regina or elsewhere in Saskatchewan.
The early construction team includes Regina’s Hipperson Construction for early works and building construction management, Saskatoon-based Maxie’s Excavating for earthworks, Soletanche Bachy Canada for piling, Ardel Steel for piling rebar supply, Amrize for piling concrete supply, Red Pelican for energy code compliance, and WaterMark Consulting for well-water monitoring. Behlen Industries of Brandon, Manitoba, will supply pre-engineered building components manufactured off-site.
Bell said additional local trades, suppliers, and service partners will be announced as the project moves through later phases of construction.
“This project is about more than just building critical digital infrastructure — it’s about creating sustained opportunities for Saskatchewan, its workers and communities,” said Dan Rink, President of Bell AI Fabric.
“When we committed to making this home to Canada’s largest purpose-built AI data centre, we also committed to doing it with the people and companies who know this ground,” Rink added. “The team we’re announcing today is that commitment in action and keeps skills, investments, and those wider economic benefits in the communities where this infrastructure is being built.”
The Sherwood project is part of Bell’s broader push into AI infrastructure at a time when demand for compute capacity is reshaping Canada’s digital economy. As enterprises, governments, and research institutions look to deploy AI workloads closer to home, large-scale data centre capacity has become increasingly tied to questions of sovereignty, power availability, network connectivity, and regional economic development.
Bell has also been working with the Government of Saskatchewan, local municipalities, and George Gordon First Nation on agreements focused on Indigenous procurement participation and workforce development.
In April, Bell and George Gordon Developments Ltd., the economic development arm of George Gordon First Nation, convened the first meeting of a joint Workforce Steering Committee. The committee is focused on Indigenous procurement, workforce development, and education partnerships with Saskatchewan post-secondary institutions.
Gord Hipperson, President of Hipperson Construction, described the project as a “generational build” for Saskatchewan contractors.
“We’re proud to be trusted with the early works on a facility that will shape Canada’s position in AI for decades, and proud that so much of the work is going to firms our crews have worked alongside for years,” Hipperson said.
Bell’s announcement comes as AI data centres become a major infrastructure priority across Canada, with operators competing for access to land, power, talent, and fibre connectivity. For Saskatchewan, the Sherwood facility positions the province as an emerging player in the country’s AI infrastructure buildout, while giving local contractors and workers a direct role in one of Canada’s largest digital infrastructure projects.