A new initiative called “Duck Lake Forever” has emerged, urging community members to safeguard the name of their historic town.
This campaign was sparked after the mayor revealed intentions last week to auction off the naming rights for the town, which has a population of approximately 580 and is situated about 80 kilometers northeast of Saskatoon.
The town of Duck Lake is thought to have derived its name from what Indigenous peoples referred to as “See Seep SaKayegan,” which highlights the many migrating ducks present in the area during spring and fall, as per the official website of Duck Lake.
It gained recognition as a significant location during the 1885 Battle of Duck Lake, one of the initial confrontations in the Northwest Resistance led by Louis Riel.
Local resident Adam Carriere mentioned that he and his partner initiated Duck Lake Forever as a response to the proposal. They are promoting an online petition that had accumulated hundreds of signatures by Monday afternoon.
The petition argues that altering the town’s name would erase a vital part of Duck Lake’s Métis heritage and identity, emphasizing that the town’s name is “a legacy worth preserving for future generations.”
“The Battle of Duck Lake is a crucial part of our history. For Métis residents, living in the historic town of Duck Lake is a significant source of pride,” Carriere stated.
Adam Carriere launched a “Duck Lake Forever” Facebook page and urges individuals to sign the online petition to maintain the town’s name. (CBC News)
He expressed concerns that a partnership with a private entity might leave residents exposed if commitments are not fulfilled, potentially resulting in taxpayers covering the costs for new signage and rebranding.
“If they fail to uphold their part of the agreement, it’s our lawyers against theirs, and we’d be facing a huge corporation,” he added.
Carriere mentioned that the campaign’s organizers aim to present their case to the council and advocate for a community vote.
“This is a significant risk that we can’t reverse,” he noted. “Whatever decision is made here, we will have to live with it.”
Mayor Jason Anderson of Duck Lake stated to CBC News that selling the naming rights would generate funds to address deteriorating infrastructure, such as roads and water lines, and any proposed name change would eventually be presented to residents in a referendum.
A former mayor supports the effort to retain the name
Denis Poirier, a former mayor of Duck Lake, indicated that he and his family intend to sign the petition.
Poirier has lived in Duck Lake for 55 years and has served on the town council for 31 years, including seven as mayor.
He emphasized that the town’s history is integral to its identity and that a change in name would pose challenges for residents.
“This impacts everyone from the RM [Rural Municipality] and from the [Beardy’s Okemasis First Nation] reserve, because their mail is delivered in Duck Lake. Therefore, their addresses would all need to be updated,” Poirier explained.
“Our driver’s licenses, passports, health cards – so many documents would need to be changed. And who would bear these costs? Certainly not the town. It would fall on the residents.”
The town of Duck Lake is offering its name for sale. Mayor Jason Anderson mentioned that any potential name change would also have to respect the community’s rich Canadian history.
Despite this, Poirier remains hopeful that community efforts could influence the outcome.
“By uniting and signing these petitions to show our opposition, maybe they will realize the importance of preserving the name and halt the process,” he remarked.
Expert calls the idea ‘impractical’
Marvin Ryder, a marketing professor at McMaster University, noted that while the concept of selling a town’s name is not entirely unprecedented, it is exceedingly rare.
He cited a few instances in the United States, such as the small New Mexico town of Truth or Consequences, which adopted that name in 1950 as part of a radio show competition (previously known as Hot Springs). Topeka, Kansas, briefly transformed into ToPikachu in 1998 and again in 2018 to celebrate Pokémon releases.
Ryder indicated that there is no known case of a Canadian town doing something similar and suggested that the mayor’s proposal might be more about attracting attention.
Marvin Ryder, a marketing expert at McMaster University, believes the attempt to sell Duck Lake’s naming rights may be more about garnering attention. (CBC)
“Part of me questions whether he is genuinely serious about this or if it’s a tactic to embarrass the Saskatchewan government,” he stated.
“Here I am, cap in hand, pleading for someone to purchase the naming rights to my town so I can afford infrastructure improvements. Perhaps the Saskatchewan government should consider a program to assist smaller communities with infrastructure needs.”
While he acknowledged the town’s creativity, Ryder concluded that the notion is not practical.
“The old adage is that any publicity is good publicity,” he remarked. “However, in terms of practicality, this approach may not be the best path forward.”