'Use your brain': Hundreds march in Vancouver against AI data centre expansion
Over 500 protesters marched in Vancouver on Saturday against the expansion of AI data centres, led by 18-year-old student Torin LaRocque, who criticized the projects for straining electricity and water resources amid a housing crisis. The federal government-backed initiative, involving Telus, plans to convert two buildings into AI-focused data centres by 2029, with claims of sustainable energy use, while opposition groups demand a halt until risks are assessed.
A protest of more than 500 people marched through downtown Vancouver on Saturday, opposing the planned expansion of AI data centres in the city. Organized by 18-year-old university student Torin LaRocque, the demonstration began at Waterfront Station and moved along Granville Street, with protesters chanting 'use your brain.' LaRocque, founder of the grassroots group No AI Vancouver, cited concerns over rising electricity demand, water shortages, and air pollution linked to the facilities. The rally follows federal plans to strengthen Canada’s AI infrastructure with two new data centres in Vancouver. One project will repurpose the former Hootsuite office at 111 East 5th Ave. starting late this year, while a second 10-storey centre at 150 West Georgia St. is expected to open in 2029. Both will be powered by Telus and require tens of megawatts of electricity, with claims of 80% reduced energy use and 90% lower water consumption through advanced cooling systems. The federal government announced the initiative earlier this month, emphasizing sustainability by capturing waste heat to potentially warm 150,000 homes in Metro Vancouver. Despite projected $9 billion in economic value and over 1,500 jobs, critics argue the environmental and health risks remain unregulated. B.C. Greens Leader Emily Lowan called for a halt to construction until risks are fully understood, labeling the approach as 'build-first, regulate-later.' LaRocque’s petition, now with over 3,500 signatures, demands a pause on the projects. He argued Vancouver’s housing crisis and water shortages make the data centres counterintuitive, while Vancouver Police monitored the march, which briefly disrupted traffic on the Granville Street Bridge. The protest reflects growing grassroots opposition to AI infrastructure expansion in Canada.
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