Amazon Announces Opening of Cloud Computing Center in Calgary

Amazon Web Services, the cloud division of Amazon, announced plans to open a new cloud competing center in Calgary in late 2023. This will be the second cloud competing hub in Canada, supplementing Amazon’s existing cloud computing facility in Montreal. Amazon says this new Calgary hub will help provide better service to Western Canada.

Amazon plans to invest $4.3 billion in the Calgary region by 2037 through construction expenses, utility costs, and purchasing goods and services from local businesses. The company says the construction of this new facility will contribute to 950 new jobs in Canada. When combined with Amazon’s existing facility in Montreal, Amazon will be investing $21 billion into the Canadian economy by 2037.

Eric Gales, head of Amazon Web Services in Canada, says the investment comes as Amazon sees fast-paced growth in its cloud computing services. He says its facility in Calgary will support the rapid adoption the company is seeing in its cloud computing services by Canadian businesses. He mentions that Calgary was an excellent location for the new hub as it is well-placed in Western Canada, is connected to national and international infrastructure, and offers renewable energy alternatives to assist the company in meeting its emissions reduction goals.

This is one of multiple investments Amazon Web Services has made in the Calgary region recently. In April and June, Amazon announced two large renewable energy projects in Alberta—building solar farms that will power more than 118,000 homes per year once complete. Amazon has also partnered with Mount Royal University to deliver the AWS re/Start job skills training program, aiming to assist individuals with finding meaningful employment outside of the prominent oil and gas sector.

Author: Eran Rubman, 2021/2022 Articling Student-at-law