Electronic Message Boards
Our Electronic Message Boards Portfolio
Your Sign, Updated in Seconds
Electronic message centres are LED digital displays that let you change your message on the fly. Update promotions, announce events, share service times, or display fuel prices — all from your phone or computer. No printing, no installation crew, no waiting.
They’re one of the few signs that keep working for you long after they’re installed, because the content is always fresh. A static sign says the same thing for years. A digital sign says something new every day.
Full Colour, Full Control
Full-colour vs monochrome — Monochrome displays (single colour, usually amber or red) are simpler and less expensive, good for text-based messages. Full-colour RGB displays can show photos, video, and graphics in any colour. The right choice depends on what you want to show and your budget.
Pixel pitch — This is the distance between LED pixels in millimetres. Smaller pitch means sharper image but higher cost. A quick rule of thumb: multiply the pitch by 8 to get the minimum comfortable viewing distance in feet. A 16mm sign looks great from about 130 feet — perfect for roadside.
Content management — Modern displays come with cloud-based software. Drag and drop your content, schedule different messages for different times of day, and manage everything from your phone or any computer. Most systems include pre-built templates to get you started.
Where You'll See Them
Electronic message centres are everywhere once you start looking for them:
Churches and community halls — Service times, event announcements, community messages. One of the most common applications.
Schools and recreation centres — Announcements, sports scores, event schedules, safety messages.
Gas stations — Fuel prices updated in real time.
Retail and restaurants — Daily specials, promotions, seasonal campaigns. Content that changes as often as your business does.
Integrated with monument or pylon signs — A popular setup is permanent identification on top (your name and logo) with a digital message area below. Multi-tenant properties use the digital portion for shared announcements while each tenant keeps their own static panel.
Permits and Local Bylaws
This is the section most people skip, but it matters. Municipalities regulate electronic signs more heavily than almost any other sign type.
Victoria’s sign bylaw covers where electronic message centres can be installed, how bright they can be, how often messages are allowed to change (minimum hold times are common), and whether animation or video is permitted. Some zones only allow them for institutional uses like churches, schools, and hospitals.
Brightness — Industry standard is 0.3 foot-candles above ambient light measured from a set distance. Modern signs have auto-dimming sensors that adjust for time of day, so they’re not blinding anyone at night.
LED lifespan — Modules are rated for 50,000 to 100,000 hours. Most modern displays are modular, so individual panels can be swapped without replacing the entire sign.
We know the local rules and can tell you upfront whether an electronic message centre is an option for your property and what the approval process looks like.
