The Rural Municipality of Sherwood office in Regina was vandalized with anti-AI graffiti over the weekend, prompting a police investigation. The spray-painted messages appeared less than a week after the Sherwood council approved Bell Canada's plan to build a $1.7-billion artificial intelligence data centre south of Regina.
Graffiti Details
According to CBC Saskatchewan, several phrases including “F–k AI let’s riot” and “hear us” were spray-painted across the front entrance, covering glass doors and the surrounding wall. By Tuesday, the messages on the glass had been removed, and paint on the walls was partially scrubbed away.
Connection to Data Centre Approval
The graffiti appears to be in response to the R.M.’s recent approval of Bell Canada’s AI data centre. The decision was made during a tense council meeting last week that did not allow some members of the public to speak about the project. The vandalism occurred several days later.
Police Investigation
The Regina Police Service (RPS) has opened an investigation after receiving a report on Monday regarding “mischief/graffiti at this location.” A spokesperson stated that the investigation is in its early stages and no further details are available at this time.
Interim reeve Ray Orb confirmed that the R.M. is aware of the police investigation but declined to comment further. “While it is disappointing, we are awaiting the report from RPS before any further communications are directed to our ratepayers and to the general public,” Orb said via email.
Public Opposition
Bell’s data centre has sparked two public protests since it was announced in February. On April 20, around 150 people protested outside the R.M.’s office as council approved the development. An earlier protest on April 18 at the provincial legislature drew a similar crowd. Organizers claim to have collected more than 15,000 signatures on online and paper petitions opposing the project.
Advocates argue that the data centre poses environmental concerns and that Sherwood has not been transparent or properly involved the public in the approval process. Bell Canada maintains that it has fulfilled all obligations under Saskatchewan legislation. Orb previously stated that the municipality is satisfied with Bell’s plans as presented.
