The County of Huron’s Social & Property Services partnered with Capital Networks to pilot a modern digital signage solution designed to improve communication with residents across its housing portfolio.
Using Capital Networks’ hosted Audience™ CMS and a BrightSign media player, the County deployed an easy-to-manage communication channel that allows staff to quickly share timely updates with residents.
The results exceeded expectations. Staff found the system easy to use, residents appreciated having clear and current information, and the County is now planning a wider rollout across additional housing locations.
Challenge
Like many municipal housing providers, the County of Huron must communicate important updates to residents across multiple housing locations. Traditional communication methods such as printed posters and bulletin boards can be time-consuming to maintain and may not always reach residents quickly.
- Ensuring important announcements reach residents quickly
- Managing and updating physical posters across buildings
- Providing staff with a simple, centralized tool for posting updates
- Keeping information current, accessible, and relevant
These challenges mirror what Capital Networks is seeing across the municipal housing sector, where organizations are increasingly turning to digital signage to enhance overall communication efficiency.
Solution
The County implemented Capital Networks’ turnkey digital signage platform, consisting of:
Hosted Audience™ CMS
A cloud-based content management system allowing staff to log in from any internet-connected location to post, update, and schedule content.
BrightSign Media Player
A highly reliable signage player that delivers an HDMI output to wallmounted monitors in residential buildings.
Simple Workflow for Staff
Staff can quickly push out new content — such as maintenance updates, program reminders, safety notices, holiday schedules, and community events — keeping residents informed in real time.
Results
The pilot project delivered several immediate benefits:
- Strong resident engagement — residents responded positively and valued receiving timely, relevant information
- High staff adoption — staff were able to easily manage, schedule, and update content without technical barriers
- Operational efficiency — reduced need for printed notices and manual updates
- Scalability — solution is ready for broader deployment across additional housing sites
Based on the success of the pilot, the County of Huron Social Housing division is now planning expanded deployments.
Looking Forward
Capital Networks continues to see a significant rise in demand for digital signage solutions from municipal housing authorities across Canada. As communication needs evolve and residents increasingly rely on real-time information, digital signage offers a scalable and efficient way to keep communities informed.
The County of Huron’s successful pilot stands as a strong example of how accessible, cloud-powered signage can transform communication in community housing settings — with minimal overhead and maximum impact.