More than 500 business, government and industry leaders gathered in downtown Calgary this week for Data Centre West 2026, a sold-out conference focused on the future of digital infrastructure in Western Canada.
Hosted by the Western Canada Data Centre Alliance, the event brought together data centre operators, investors, hyperscalers, technology companies, utilities, builders, engineers, policymakers and economic development leaders.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith used her remarks to highlight the province’s strategy to become an AI data centre powerhouse capable of attracting as much as $200 billion in potential investment.
That ambition is already taking shape through Meta’s $13 billion commitment to build what is expected to be Canada’s largest data centre.
Across the conference, speakers examined what Canada—and Western Canada in particular—must do to convert interest in digital infrastructure into construction activity, skilled employment, domestic supply chains and long-term economic growth.
Sessions covered the full infrastructure system required to support data centres, including electricity generation, grid access, cooling, construction, security, connectivity, workforce development and public policy. Speakers also discussed the different requirements of hyperscale facilities, colocation providers and AI training infrastructure.
The economic opportunity extended well beyond the facilities themselves. Data centre development could create new business for Canadian companies specializing in power, cooling, engineering, security, equipment, maintenance and other services while supporting permanent technical employment.
Canadian companies were well represented across the program, reflecting the breadth of the country’s growing digital infrastructure ecosystem. Speakers included representatives from Montreal-headquartered data centre operator eStruxture and Toronto-based Qu Data Centres, along with engineering and construction leaders WSP, Stantec, and EllisDon.
Calgary-based liquid-cooling specialist CoolIT Systems was also represented, highlighting Canadian capabilities that now extend from data centre ownership and operation through engineering, construction, power, and advanced cooling technologies.
Alberta Minister of Technology and Innovation Nate Glubish joined Meta for a panel examining responsible development and investor certainty.
Glubish said the province is working to establish clear and fair rules that give prospective investors a predictable path forward. He summarized Alberta’s approach as finding the right project, in the right location and developing it the right way.
Participants also explored the factors that determine where major projects are built, including reliable electricity, timely approvals, suitable land, strong connectivity, skilled workers, community support and clear public policy.
Alberta Minister of Affordability and Utilities RJ Sigurdson highlighted the province’s model of combining grid electricity with on-site generation. The approach is intended to accommodate large data centres without compromising the power supply serving homes and communities.
Sigurdson noted that Meta’s development will fund the new generation and grid infrastructure it requires.
“Our goal was to bring the people who are investing in, building, powering and operating digital infrastructure into the same room with the governments, businesses and communities that will help make those projects possible,” said Vlad Oujegov, president and founder of the Western Canada Data Centre Alliance.
Oujegov said demand has already outgrown the conference’s one-day format, prompting organizers to expand Data Centre West to two days next year.
Data Centre West will return to Calgary on September 13 and 14, 2027, with program and registration updates to be posted at datacentrewest.ca.