Meta Platforms Inc. will build its first Canadian artificial-intelligence data centre in Sturgeon County, Alberta, with an investment of C$13 billion [1].

The move signals a significant expansion of computing infrastructure in North America as the global demand for AI processing power grows. By establishing a presence in Alberta, Meta aims to increase its capacity to train and deploy large-scale AI models.

The facility is designed with a power capacity of one gigawatt [1]. This massive energy requirement reflects the intensity of modern AI workloads, which demand significantly more power than traditional cloud computing centers. The project is located northeast of Edmonton, where the company intends to leverage local infrastructure and land availability [2].

Financial estimates for the project vary slightly across reports. Some sources list the investment at C$13 billion [1], while others describe it as more than C$13 billion [3]. In U.S. currency, the investment is estimated at US$9.17 billion [1], though some reports round this figure to about US$9 billion [4].

Construction of the site is expected to take between two and three years [4]. The project represents a strategic pivot toward diversifying the company's physical footprint in the AI race, moving beyond its established hubs in the U.S.

Meta said the facility will support the global artificial-intelligence boom [5]. The company has not released further details regarding the specific types of hardware that will be installed at the Sturgeon County site.

“Meta will build its first Canadian artificial-intelligence data centre in Sturgeon County, Alberta.”

Meta's entry into the Canadian market with a 1-gigawatt facility underscores the immense energy and land requirements of the current AI era. By placing a massive hub in Alberta, the company is betting on the region's ability to provide the stable, high-volume power necessary for generative AI, while simultaneously reducing its reliance on U.S.-centric infrastructure to mitigate regional risks.