Big Tech joins Calgary Stampede oil bash, as Canada courts data centres

Technology analyst Daniel Bader speaks about new polling on how Canadians feel about AI data centres and what's driving opposition to them.

CALGARY -- Big Tech has joined the party at the Calgary Stampede, a sign of growing interest in Canada from U.S.-based hyperscalers as Alberta courts data centre development.

Oil and gas companies typically take centre stage at the annual energy get-together, timed with the city’s famous rodeo. But this year, U.S.-based tech giants have a noticeable corporate presence as well, according to sources attending the parties.

Alphabet’s Google has been the most highly visible, helping sponsor Stampede for the second year in a row. The company hosted a private party Sunday at the Corona Skydeck, an exclusive rooftop patio overlooking the Stampede rodeo grounds, with enough capacity for 300 guests.

The party was attended by federal and provincial politicians and government staff, among other guests, according to a Reuters source.

A Google spokeswoman confirmed that the company has the largest presence it has ever had at the Calgary Stampede this year.

Two sources said other tech firms, including Meta and Amazon, have also been attending events and meetings at Stampede. Neither company responded to a request for comment.

Alberta wants to attract $100 billion in data centre investment, touting its cheap and abundant natural gas supply. Affordable power, combined with the province’s cold climate, could make it an attractive jurisdiction to U.S. hyperscalers facing power constraints and growing community opposition in their own country.

The Alberta government said it plans to announce a “major investment” in the province’s technology and artificial intelligence sector on Wednesday. No additional details were provided, but Nate Glubish, the province’s technology minister, previously told Reuters that Alberta is in talks with multiple tech companies that are searching for jurisdictions where they can connect to the grid quickly.

Alberta is also offering proponents the option to build their own power sources to avoid limits on power capacity.

While the province does not yet have any data centres at the so-called hyperscale level (demanding 50 megawatts or more of power), almost 100 have been proposed and at least one large-scale one is set for construction.

Last week, Pembina Pipeline said it will go ahead with its planned $4.6 billion (US$3.24 billion) Greenlight Electricity Centre in central Alberta, a 932-megawatt natural gas-fired project that will power the development of a major data centre for an undisclosed customer.

(Reporting by Amanda Stephenson in Calgary; Editing by Caroline Stauffer and David Gaffen)