A European data giant has made a $145 million decision to open up its first facility in Ontario after meeting with Cambridge's mayor during a European economic trip last fall.
OVHCloud is a cloud-sharing company based out of France and is set to open its second Canadian centre in the Ascent TOR1 hyperscale development on Vondrau Drive, near Maple Grove Road.
Say hello to our new #datacentre in Cambridge, š #Toronto region! OVHcloud continues its international expansion with the launch of a second Canadian site šØš¦ (the Group's 42nd data centre), supported by a long-term investment of CAD 145 million. Located in #Cambridge, in the… pic.twitter.com/ooLMrcqzRT
— OVHcloud (@OVHcloud) March 13, 2024
The company said the 10,000 sq. ft. facility will host 10,000 servers and create dozens of new jobs in the region.
Cambridge Mayor Jan Liggett said she met with executives from the data company during a trip to Europe with the Waterloo Region Economic Development Corporation last fall as the tech giant was considering Cambridge for its expansion.
The mayor met with Michel Paulin, CEO of OVHcloud and toured the OVHcloud facility.
"I am proud to welcome OVHcloud to Cambridge as they continue their international expansion by choosing Cambridge as their second Canadian location," she said.
The company said the new venture will be supported by a $145 million investment over the next eight years, to support the growth and needs of its customers "within a framework of extended trust."
"Dedicated to the development of its new data centre and to the industrial innovations that are the hallmark of the trusted cloud leader, this investment includes, in its first phase, the hiring of a number of qualified talents," said a press release.
Estelle Azemard, vice president of Americas for OVHcloud added that Cambridge was chosen due to its proximity to Toronto and the Waterloo-Toronto tech corridor, marking a turning point in the company's ability to serve the region.
The data company was started back in 1999 and has had a strong presence in Canada since 2011 with the opening of its Montreal facility where it employs 250 people and operates 90,000 servers.
The company allows businesses to host websites, run platforms and store data.
Spanning over four continents and 140 countries, OVHCloud has become a leader in cloud management and data security.
"This long-term investment of $145 million helps to strengthen the Toronto-Waterloo Region Innovation Corridor, the second largest technology corridor cluster in North America, and continues to position Cambridge as a top-tier destination for technology businesses, talent, and investors from around the world," added Liggett.
