A Major Job Opportunity Emerges in Sault Ste. Marie
The recent announcement of up to 1,000 job losses at Algoma Steel has been a significant blow to the local economy. However, a new development could help offset these losses with an equal number of potential new positions.
Toronto-based Protexxa Inc., in partnership with Missanabie Cree First Nation, is planning to purchase three parcels of city-owned industrial land on Yates Avenue in Sault Ste. Marie. This move could bring a substantial artificial intelligence and cybersecurity data centre to the area.
What Protexxa Brings to the Table
Protexxa is a B2B SaaS cybersecurity platform that leverages artificial intelligence to identify, evaluate, predict, and resolve cyber issues for employees. The company's mission is to keep every human safe in our digital world and transform cybersecurity by helping businesses find and fix vulnerabilities.
In addition to its AI-driven platform, Protexxa provides cybersecurity services including cyber program management and training for organizations and governments of all sizes. The company is headquartered in Toronto and serves clients globally, including the City of Brampton, the Senate of Canada, and the governments of Barbados and Jamaica.
The Proposed Facility
The planned facility will span 100,000 to 160,000 square feet on 8.39 acres of land and will include:
- A data centre
- Cybersecurity monitoring services
- Cybersecurity training services
The operation will run 24/7 with a subscription-based model for clients, primarily targeting small to medium-sized businesses.
Innovative Cooling Solution
One of the most innovative aspects of this proposal is Protexxa's plan to explore using snow in addition to water for cooling the data centre. This comes at a time when AI data centres are facing criticism for their massive energy and water consumption, with some communities developing fierce opposition to such proposals.
Power Requirements and Local Support
The initial data centre will require five megawatts of power, which the local PUC has confirmed existing capacity can support. A new transmission station being developed next to the proposed location will eventually provide 10 megawatts or more to meet Protexxa's longer-term power needs.
Job Creation Potential
City officials estimate the new business could provide a minimum of 200 new jobs, with the potential to grow to up to 1,000 jobs when fully operational. The timing is particularly significant given the recent layoffs at Algoma Steel, which could provide essential labour for Protexxa's operations.
Protexxa believes there are 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs globally, highlighting the growing demand for skilled professionals in this field.
Development Timeline and Requirements
If city councillors approve the land sale, Protexxa will be required to erect a building with at least 100,000 square feet within three years of purchase. Failure to meet this commitment would allow the city to take back the property.
The city established a $349,000 price for the three properties during a closed meeting in November 2025, and will cover the costs of the reference plan defining the lands to be sold.
This development represents not just potential job creation, but also innovation in sustainable data centre operations and partnership with Indigenous communities through the involvement of Missanabie Cree First Nation.
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