The digital display outside the Estevan Leisure Centre has been plagued by recurring failures, often going dark without warning. At Monday night’s council meeting, Marketing and Communications Manager Jacquelyn Massey-Rounds presented a report recommending a replacement, citing outdated technology and ongoing maintenance issues.
The aging sign creates challenges for Leisure Services and other facility users when designing advertisements. “Throughout the year, the Marketing and Communications division designs and schedules advertising on this display for the Bruins, Bears, various water-sport organizations, events hosted at Affinity Place, Estevan Public Library programming, curling programming and the Energy City Expo,” the report stated.
To highlight the need for an upgrade, Massey-Rounds compared the board’s resolution (540x240) to a modern iPhone’s (2556x1179), emphasizing its limitations.
Dynamic Signs provided a quote in September 2024, estimating the cost of removing the old board and installing a new display at $52,302, excluding taxes. The replacement could be completed using the existing frame.
“Upgrading to a new display will not only provide a more reliable and efficient advertising solution but also enhance the overall functionality of the system," said Massey-Rounds. "A new display will allow for higher-quality visuals, offering a more effective platform for promoting Leisure Services and other community-related advertisements." The new sign would support 4K video and remote access for improved usability.
During discussions Councillor Dave Elliot raised budgeting concerns, questioning whether the Leisure Centre should absorb the cost within its existing budget or adjust its request before finalizing expenditures.
City Manager Jeff Ward acknowledged the timing challenge, noting that the sign failure occurred after the budget had been drafted. “Instead of bringing it forward at the last minute, we wanted to open the discussion now,” he said. He suggested council could either approve the upgrade within the existing budget or add it as a separate expense.
Councillor Shelly Veroba supported working within the Leisure Centre’s budget. "The motion I made was to include it in the budget, and if it can't be covered within the existing leisure services budget, we’d have to determine whether this is a higher priority than another project. If not, it will be added during budget discussions," she said.
Councillor Brian Johnson emphasized the sign’s importance, calling it a valuable tool for promoting city events and services. “We have such a prime location for this display,” he said, adding that an upgraded sign would benefit both residents and visitors. He also suggested repurposing the current monitors if possible.
Ultimately, the council agreed to attempt to cover the cost within the Leisure Centre’s budget and, if necessary, revisit the discussion during final budget approvals.