Regina residents protest planned Bell AI data centre through art, music and zines
CBC
Dozens of people filled Regina's Fresh and Sweet cafe on Saturday to paint, collage and craft their concerns about artificial intelligence by making zines — a type of self-published small booklet, typically created by hand.
The event was organized by InspirED Saskatchewan, a student-led nonprofit created by University of Regina students.
"There's a lot of outrage over the proposed AI data centre. So our plan here today was: combat that with art," said Amber Fink, one of the organizers with InspirED Saskatchewan.
Bell Canada said last week it plans to start construction on a 300 MW facility in the rural municipality of Sherwood, just south of Regina, this spring.
The company said it would be the largest AI data centre in Canada and will generate about $12 billion for the province's economy.
But the project is sparking widespread concerns about lack of consultations and possible environmental issues, with an online petition against the project gaining over 10,000 signatures.
Fink said given the implications artificial intelligence has for art, it was important to create a community space to collaborate and celebrate creativity.
"There's so much beauty in human connection and AI a lot of times, it plagiarizes artists' work, so it's not something I stand for," Fink said.
Several local visual artists were on hand to help with the zine production and local musicians provided the event's soundtrack. Fink said the plan was for the zines to be sold and then all proceeds would go to artists.
Another member of InspirED Saskatchewan, Lily Evanochko, said the day was an opportunity for people to have a creative outlet for their feelings while helping the community learn more about the planned AI data centre.
Information sheets on AI and the planned data centre were available for participants to use.
"I've learned a lot about it today by reading some of the zines that people have made before this," Evanochko said.
She said the lack of community consultation for the AI data centre has been an issue.
"I see it as more of an extractive tool rather than something that would help us," Evanochko said.
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