Live: Nova Scotians protest against data centres

• Seven protests are scheduled across Nova Scotia today, in opposition to data centre development in the province.
• On October 16, Nova Scotia company EverWind announced plans to invest  $10 billion in an AI data centre at its Point Tupper industrial site. 
• The data centre, located just outside Port Hawkesbury, will provide computing power for artificial intelligence firm Anthropic.

A common concern among protesters was AI’s influence on art and academia.

Emmett Paul, a teaching assistant at Dalhousie University, said “I tutor people in writing, I do like all sorts of things with art.… The idea of bringing AI, or any form of data centre, into Nova Scotia is just against everything I believe in.”

Another protestor, Sarah Ryan, voiced her environmental and transparency concerns.

“I really wanted to come down here and voice my opinion because I think it’s really important,” she said. “It feels like they’re making decisions behind our backs almost.”

–Hannah MacFarlane

3:47 p.m.

A Halifax Regional Police representative told Signal staff that they originally expected a crowd of between 100 and 150 people at an anti-AI data centre protest at Province House today. They now estimate the turnout was at least 1,000 people.

3:08 p.m.

Crowd chants “We’ll be back” at close of protest. 

2:57 p.m.

Protesters gather in communities across the province  

Approximately 75 protestors gathered in Truro, 50 in Bridgewater, and 150 in Port Hawkesbury during anti-data centre protests today, according to nearby local business staff reached by The Signal.  

Protest organizer Mary Stewart confirmed 150 in attendance at the Westville demonstration. 

CBC reports 200 people gathered in Kentville. 

–Lauren Denneson and Casey Balon 

2:34 p.m.

Lauren Burton and Keilidh Corkill, two members of the No More Stolen Sisters campaign, spoke at the protest on Saturday. 

Burton lives near Port Hawkesbury, where the proposed EverWind data centre will be built. “Decisions affecting Mi’kmaq lands, waters, and communities cannot continue to be made without meaningful Mi’kmaq involvement through nation-to-nation relationships,” she says. 

She says there’s a lack of transparency about data centre approval. “Why are decisions being made behind closed doors? Why are a select few allowed to make decisions affecting the entire nation, the entire province?” 

“Nation to nation relationships [aren’t] just about consultation,” added Corkhill. “It’s about having a say. It’s about having self-determination and self-governance over your lands and people, which the Mi’kmaq should have.” 

–Matthew Copage

2:20 p.m.

Police release downtown traffic advisory

Halifax Regional Police issued a traffic advisory on Saturday afternoon, in response to pedestrian traffic related to the large anti-data centre protest. They advised that there will be delays to vehicular traffic and that drivers should take alternate routes.

Police representatives told Signal reporters at the protest that at least 1,000 people were in attendance.

–Casey Balon

2:06 p.m.

Protest organizer says 150 in attendance at Westville protest

Mary Stewart, an organizer of the anti-data centre protest outside Premier Tim Houston’s office in Westville, said around 150 people attended today’s event.

“There were about 150 who came out, which demonstrates that despite the weather, people in the area are very passionate about this,” she told The Signal. “We had over eighty signatures for the petition to reopen legislature and have the data center actively debated with opposition.”

–Casey Balon 

1:58 p.m.

Blaise Reed is originally from Ontario, but moved to Halifax for school. He is concerned about the influence that large corporations can have on our online algorithms and social media. 

“I would love to see some legislation put in place to stop the abilities that large corporations can have,” he says. 

–Emme Morin

1:53 p.m.

Protesters that originally gathered outside Province House are now marching down Argyle St.

1:40 p.m.

Standing across from the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, artist and children’s literacy advocate Kelly Bee spoke about the negative impacts of generative AI on the arts.

“We will never have another Maud Lewis in the province if we make generative AI the standard,” she said.

In an interview with Signal reporters, Bee said that AI companies are, “scraping real artist’s work and using it to train generative AI models.”

As Bee finished the speech, the crowd erupted in an “make bad art!” chant.

–Matthew Copage

1:37 p.m.

Nancy Hunter helped organize the protest. Speaking to protesters, she reminded them of Nova Scotia’s treaty responsibilities, which she says Houston is breaking. 

“I’ve been to a lot of rallies in the city, and this is one of the biggest crowds I’ve ever seen,” she said. “The energy, the vibe is fantastic.”

–Jackie Shirokov

1:24 p.m.

Tristen Roscoe says he attends Hal-Con every year, but this year he broke tradition for something he believes is more important. 

“Being able to come here today means a lot to me and I don’t care that the [Hal-Con] weekend pass cost however many dollars, this will always take priority,” he said.

–Emme Morin

1:17 p.m.

“Data centres… have really detrimental effects on communities, on our environment, on our general state of well-being.”

Arts administrator and theatre maker Jessie Walker says she is attending the protest because, “data centres have been proven to have really detrimental effects on communities, on our environment, on our general state of well-being.”  

Walker says she thinks Premier Tim Houston, “cares more about American companies and about killing our environment than he does about everyday Nova Scotians.”  

Nearby, social worker Kendall Paul says they are protesting the “lack of public interaction about these data centres… there’s a lack of regulation, a lack of consultation with Mi’kmaq communities, and also [no] talking about the impacts of possible climate impacts.”  

–Kendall Nestor

12:38 p.m.

Seventeen year-old Rory Britton performed his anti-AI song in front of thousands of protestors on Hollis Street this afternoon.

Britton wrote the song at a youth songwriting camp. “It’s the best form of protest,” he says.  

–Jackie Shirokov

12:22 p.m.

Halifax Regional Police estimate that more than 1,000 people are currently attending the protest outside Province House on Hollis St.

–Signal Staff

10:30 a.m.

Protesters gather at Glitter Bean to make posters

Protestors gathered at Halifax’s Glitter Bean Cafe on Saturday morning to make posters.  

Kym Sweeny and her daughter Evelyn are two of the organizers of the impromptu poster making event. Sweeny says the poster-making event was prompted by a lack of events being held during “kid-friendly” hours. 

The Glitter Bean event brought out young protestors, with most of the poster makers under the age of ten. They’re taking the glitter side of the Glitter Bean literally. 

Kym Sweeny says showing up to the protest will, “let our government know that we do not support this project.” She says that a lack of transparency has led to questions and concerns for Nova Scotians. 

“In Nova Scotia, we’re very used to industry coming in with big promises and then leaving us with the environmental disaster in the bill afterwards.” 

Sweeny’s daughter, Evelyn, says she is, “very against AI and the way it disrupts ecosystem and takes all the water.” 

Sweeny says she is, “hoping for some community building and cross-provincial solidarity” to come out of the protest. 

She wants the government to see how many people come out and, “the government might change their mind.” 

— Kendall Nestor

About the author

Signal Staff

Casey Balon

Matthew Copage

Lauren Denneson

Lauren has a background in mental health research and is interested in reporting on health- and science-related topics.

Hannah MacFarlane

Emme Morin

Emme is a Bachelor of Journalism student at the University of King’s College. Born and raised in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, she is interested...

Kendall Nestor

Kendall is a King's Bachelor of Journalism student. She is passionate about politics and pop culture.

Kendra Perrin

Kendra is a reporter from Vancouver, BC in the one-year Bachelor of Journalism at King's.

Laura Publicover

Laura Publicover is a Bachelor of Journalism student at the University of King's College.

Jackie Shirokov

Jackie Shirokov is a journalist from Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Nick Wells