Tisdale, Sask., rethinks its 'Land of Rape and Honey' slogan

The small Saskatchewan town of Tisdaleis taking another look at the slogan it has used for 60 years "Land of Rape and Honey."

The community of about 3,200 people is asking residents via a surveywhether that brand still works in 2015.

"There's passionate people who believe it should be changed and passionate people who believe it shouldn't be changed," saidSean Wallace, the town'sdirector of economic development.

"It's been both famous and infamous."

Rape in the sloganrefersto rapeseed, which has a number of varieties, includingcanola.

However, seeing the wordon the Welcome to Tisdalesign hasupset some people, who point out that, fair or not, itevokessexual assault.

The Tisdalesurvey does not deal with that aspect of the controversy,butnotes that today,organic rapeseed accounts for less than one per centof the crops grown in the region. Canola is now king.

For that matter,honey production has decreased significantly, too.

So town council is asking residents for advice. It wants to know if business people feel comfortable with Land of Rape and Honey on their business cards.

The survey also suggests some alternative slogans:

• Hub of the Northeast.
• A Place to Grow.
• A Place to Bee.
• Land ofCanolaand Honey.

To encourage participation in the survey, there are prizes, with the top one being a barbecue.