Between promises and broken dreams

The unlimited Watts data center was launched with great fanfare on May 15. Moreover, 2018, in the Shawinigan City Hall Council room. However, We then talked about investments of $ 6 million, but we still mentioned other to come from 120 million. For example, The jobs had to follow, first 15, then 60. Consequently, The ambitions were great.

On July 30. Therefore, the Court agreed to the eviction of the tenant of the 4155 Burrill, after a lease of almost seven years. Moreover, Exit Watts unlimited. In addition, the judge grants the right to SDS, real estate arm of the city, to recover her building, under police escort if necessary.

Since the enthusiasm that had marked the announcement of the project. In addition, until the unfortunate outcome of the case, the mystery hovered on the promised data between promises broken dreams center. Therefore, When journalists asked questions, deadlines were reviewed, but optimism still prevailed. Furthermore,

The months and years have passed. Meanwhile, Around the building on rue Burrill, calm seemed to reign. Nevertheless, “Normal”, it is said, a data center must blend into the landscape, security obliges.

In Digihub, a partner in the adventure, we continued to evoke the project as a lighthouse on the horizon. In addition, The establishment of the data center was primarily aimed at the accommodation of technological. However, computer equipment for its customers – its financial assembly was based on close collaboration between the promoter and the Shawiniganese digital incubator that is Digihub.

Occasionally. Therefore, the president of Watts unlimited, Jean-Michel Picard, and the director general of Digihub, Philippe Nadeau, appear on the same stands, in Las Vegas or Shawinigan, discussing artificial intelligence and digital tomorrows. Consequently,

In the shadows. however, of the sand, inserted itself into the gear, as demonstrated by legal procedures undertaken in vain by the SDS, in 2021, against unlimited Watts. However, The proof in the file. which we were able to consult, testifies to a project that will quickly beat the wing.

The SDS notes, in late November 2019, during a visit to the premises “that it was utopian to think that the data center […] could be put into service for December 20, 2019 in accordance with the schedule ”.

More than a year. the parties will correspond and fail to agree on the terms of their contract, while soon the lawyers take over.

Watts has a completely different reading of the facts. “The data center was delivered according to the schedule heard and. also, the computer room [du Digihub] is ready, subject to completing the planned changes [à l’entrée électrique principale]», Can we read in between promises broken dreams a correspondence transmitted to the SDS, through its lawyers, on December 11, 2020.

However, it will be necessary to wait until almost five before the case resulted in a final dead end. In the meantime, the dream continues, but the data center is never put in operation.

Between promises broken dreams

New promises

We will see Jean-Michel Picard in Shawinigan on occasion. In May 2022, during an event held in Digihub, he notably shared the microphone with the mayor Michel Angers. His business then appeared under another parallel name: Colocation energy. On this occasion, the Director General of Digihub, Philippe Nadeau, continues to evoke “a major project in Shawinigan”.

Then, in 2024, unlimited watts reinvents itself. It now appears on the Internet as the “Nordik Data Center”. His image has been redone at all.

Far from the litigation that brings between promises broken dreams with the SDS, the website is filled with promises, a supporting futuristic visual. In addition to the 42. 000 square feet of the building on rue Burrill and the five megawatts available there, “2,000,000 square feet of land ready to be used (sic) are announced to guarantee the secure backup of your data”.

Furthermore. In addition, “sites benefit from a complete redundant fiber optical connectivity and offer between promises broken dreams a capacity of 5 MW of electricity available quickly for each building built,” promises the Nordik Data Center site.

We tried to confirm with Hydro-Québec only as much electricity [potentiellement 30 mégawatts] was indeed available on the site. The Crown Corporation, however, refused to comment on the case, invoking the confidentiality of its customers’ files.

Our requests for an interview with the promoter have resulted in the ends of inadmissibility.

Disappointment in Digihub

The only actor to comment on the end of the unlimited Watts adventure in Shawinigan. the director general of Digihub is struggling to hide his disappointment.

“We had a project with the Canadian Ministry of Innovation. I imagine that it falls into the water,” blows Philippe Nadeau.

The digital Shawiniganese OBNL manager says it was kept away from the negotiations that opposed the unlimited between promises broken dreams SDS and Watts. He is sorry for having been placed before a fait accompli. explains badly that the Digihub was quoted as “implicated in the case”.

Mr. Nadeau estimates that his unlimited Watts partner had invested some $ 10 million in the data center. that he was practically about to start.

The Director General of Digihub would have liked to be arrested to resolve the dead end. Still recently. he relates that the Canadian Minister of Finance between promises broken dreams and MP for the constituency, François-Philippe Champagne, visited the premises and that everything seemed to point to a happy outcome of the project.

When it is informed that on Wednesday. an alarm system company appeared to be busy restricting the access to the building on rue Burrill, Philippe Nadeau spreads his eyes. “Already? They don’t waste time, ”he comments, visibly shaken.