Tisdale reconsiders ‘Land of rape and honey’ moniker
The Town of Tisdale’s slogan has generated snickers and stares, indifferent shoulder shrugs and passionate complaints for well over a half-century.
The community is now questioning whether it should reconsider calling itself “The land of rape and honey.”
“We’re at that point where we need to change it,” says Al Jellicoe, a local accountant and Tisdale’s mayor.
Jellicoe says one or two complaints come in to his office every year from people across Canada and even the United States who are incensed by the slogan. Then there’s the problem of clarifying the double meaning while talking business.
“Once you explain, it eases things up a bit,” says Jellicoe. “But when you’re trying to deal internationally or nationally — I don’t want to do that every time we entice a business to the area.”
As part of a survey by the Tisdale economic development office, the town is “seeking input” on its brand. The survey notes that it has been nearly 60 years since the slogan was developed, adding “we want to know if (residents) think our current brand is reflective of Tisdale in 2015 and on into the future.”
The slogan refers to rapeseed and honey — both of which have traditionally been produced in massive quantities in the area. To some, however, the word “rape” is more associated with sexual assault.
“I’d like to see it change,” said Heather Mievre, owner of Valle Mens Wear in Tisdale. “You gotta have some change once in a while.”
Mievre said people in the town don’t spend a lot of time worrying about the slogan, but it tends to come up every few years, often after a letter to the editor in the local newspaper. She doesn’t see the name as offensive.
“It suited the community back when canola was called rapeseed. Rapeseed was just common. No one thought anything of it at the time,” Mievre said.
Her personal reason for wanting a change is to freshen up the slogan, she said.
“It’s just time to refresh the name. We don’t have to stick to 1960.”
Devan Tasa, editor of the Tisdale Recorder newspaper, said a similar survey was conducted in 1992. The responses at the time were about half in favour and half against.
Tisdale, with a population of around 3,200 people, is located about 210 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon.