'Land of Rape and Honey' Considers Rebranding

The Canadian town of Tisdale is asking residents for their thoughts on changing the town's slogan after 60 years.

Local officials in the town of Tisdale, Saskatchewan are considering changing the town's motto, 'Land of Rape and Honey,' which has greeted, and offended, visitors to the area for almost 60 years.

The slogan is depicted on a sign for visitors who enter the town, and is actually a reference to  its history as a producer of rapeseed crops and honey. To those unaware of the historic link, however, the slogan is more likely to engender disbelief, or even offense due to the association with sexual assault.

Rapeseed was once commonly used to produce vegetable oil; more recently, a modern strain of the rape plant was introduced which is the source of canola, a vegetable oil which is commonly used to produce biodiesel. The name 'canola' is taken from 'Canada' and 'oil': its friendly, patriotic name was chosen by the board of the Rapeseed Association of Canada in the 1970s.

Town mayor Al Jellicoe says that his office receives one or two complaints each year from people who have seen the sign, and believes that "we’re at that point where we need to change it," adding that he fears the slogan is having a negative impact on attempts to attract business investment to the town.

A representative of the town's Economic Development Office, Sean Wallace, told local media that feelings on the sign change run high on both sides: "There's passionate people who believe it should be changed and passionate people who believe it shouldn't be changed."  

Town officials have put together a questionnaire for the town's 3,200 residents to decide on whether the slogan should be changed or not, after which a prize draw will be held for participants in July, with the possibility of winning a gas BBQ. 

"Do you believe it is time for Tisdale to update our Town brand?" asks the town's administration in the survey, on the basis that "organic Rapeseed accounts for less than 1% of crops grown in the region and honey production has decreased significantly."

Pointing out that "the Town of Tisdale has had the same brand for nearly 60 years," local people are also asked about whether they use the slogan themselves for business purposes.

"If you belong to a community group, own a business or thinking about starting a business; would you promote the current Town brand "Land of Rape and Honey" on your marketing materials [business cards, business signs, brochures, etc.]."

The survey also canvasses local residents for their suggestions for a new name. The offerings of the Economic Development Office include 'Land of Canola and Honey,' 'Hub of the Northeast,' 'A Place to Grow,' and 'A Place to Bee,' and officials hope that residents will also put forward their own suggestions for a new slogan.