Vancouver council delays Telus-Westbank AI data centre decision until after municipal election
City council unanimously reversed its plan to send a rezoning application for an AI data centre at Mount Pleasant to a public hearing, punting the decision to after the fall election.
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Vancouver City Council unanimously voted Tuesday, July 21, to reverse its earlier plan to send a rezoning application for a major AI data centre to public hearing, deferring the decision until after the municipal election.
The proposal involves converting M3, a six-storey office building at 111 East 5th Ave. and 2060 Quebec St. in the Mount Pleasant Industrial Area, into Telus's first new AI data centre in Vancouver. Westbank, the local developer behind the plan, and Telus, the telecommunications giant, announced the project in mid-May 2026.
The M3 data centre would occupy all of the building's office floors and two underground parking levels at full buildout, with an initial launch planned for late 2026 and gradual expansion through 2028. A new ground-level restaurant would also be added to serve the area's concentration of office workers. The building previously housed a major part of Hootsuite's headquarters presence.
The pair also proposed a second, much larger AI data centre at 150 West Georgia St. in downtown Vancouver, which would replace Westbank's previously approved office tower plan next to BC Place Stadium. Council has not scheduled a decision date for that proposal either.
The facts
What building is being converted for the AI data centre?
M3, a six-storey office building located at 111 East 5th Ave. and 2060 Quebec St. in Vancouver's Mount Pleasant Industrial Area, is being converted into Telus's first new AI data centre in the city.
When is the M3 data centre planned to launch?
The M3 data centre in Vancouver is planned for initial launch in late 2026, with gradual expansion through 2028.
When did council vote to delay the rezoning decision?
Vancouver City Council voted on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, to defer the rezoning decision until after the municipal election.
