‘Land of Rape and Honey’ no more

‘Opportunity Grows Here’ replaces long-misunderstood Tisdale slogan

The town of Tisdale’s longtime slogan — ‘Land of Rape and Honey’ — wasn’t so much offensive as it was simply confusing and misunderstood, according to a prominent community member.

After six decades, the town in northeast Saskatchewan is no longer officially known by its oftmocked slogan.

Instead, the community is declaring that ‘Opportunity Grows Here.’

“It has nothing to do with political correctness. It’s just confusing,” said Sean Wallace, the town’s director of economic development.

“It’s just easier to have something positive and easily understood and plays on what we are good at.”

Town officials voted unanimously last October to change the dated slogan. On Monday, the town unveiled its new slogan.

Wallace said a survey of town residents found support for change. The ‘Land of Rape and Honey’ slogan referred to the rapeseed crops grown in the area.

The second part of the slogan likely comes from Tisdale’s 16-foot roadside statue of ‘The World’s Largest Honey Bee.’ Still, the town office would regularly have to deal with complaints from people misinterpreting the old slogan.

Wallace said when marketing Tisdale as an agricultural hub, people in places like Toronto or Los Angeles might not understand that rape refers to rapeseed crops, which are similar but not identical to canola.

“Marketing Tisdale out to the world as ‘Come to the land of rape and honey' — it just doesn't work,” he said.

The new slogan includes a logo designed by a former Tisdale resident, Wallace said.

Tisdale, with a population of around 3,200 people, is located about 210 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon.