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.

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.

Protestors 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.