Tisdale, Saskatchewan, rethinks its ‘Land of Rape and Honey’ slogan

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.”

The town office is asking all the community’s 3,200 residents to fill out a survey on whetherthe town should re-think the slogan, which has been criticized for its possible misinterpretation in relation to sexual assault.

In the town’s slogan, ‘rape’ refers to rapeseed, whose oil was once used as a machine lubricant. Rapeseed also covers a wide variety of seed, including canola.

The slogan received some international attention in 1988 when industrial heavy metal band Ministry named its third album and a song The Land of Rape and Honey. The band chose the name for the album after seeing the slogan on a souvenir mug.

The town is also asking businesses if they feel comfortable putting the town’s slogan on their business cards.

The survey suggests some alternative slogans:

– Hub of the Northeast

– A Place to Grow

– A Place to Bee

– Land of Canola and Honey

Hoping to get as many surveys filled out as they can, the town is drawing prizes at the end of the survey period. Prizes include a gas barbecue, $100 credit to water bills, and Co-op gift cards. Five lucky winners will walk away with the book on Tisdale – A Story of the Century.

Agencies/Canadajournal