REGINA - About a dozen people rallied inside Regina City Hall on Wednesday asking for the CEO of the city鈥檚 tourism agency to resign amid ongoing backlash over sexualized slogans the organization had used.
Bernadette Wagner, a spokesperson for the group, said CEO Tim Reid should be removed from 鈥渁nything to do with the city of Regina鈥 after the tourism agency, Experience Regina, used slogans online that made light of the city鈥檚 name rhyming with vagina.
Reid has apologized for 鈥渘egative impact鈥 the slogans have had on the city, but Wagner said the apology isn鈥檛 enough.
鈥淢any survivors of sexual assault, including me, have been triggered and re-traumatized by this horrid campaign,鈥 Wagner said.
鈥淣or am I the only one who's absolutely tired of this, tired of the bad jokes, tired of sexual harassment, tired of responding to this misogyny, and especially when it comes from our own tourism department. It is time for the city to take action.鈥
Reid was not immediately available for comment, but has said he doesn鈥檛 think the controversy warrants his resignation.
Reid is also the CEO of Regina Exhibition Association Limited, known as REAL, a non-profit corporation that oversees Experience Regina and operates the city鈥檚 main event complex.
"We are following the protocols of city council and will respect their guidance and any future decisions," said Wayne Morsky, who is chair of the board of directors for REAL. "We will provide an update when it is available."
Earlier this month, Experience Regina rebranded and used certain phrases on its website and social media accounts, including 鈥淲e are the city that rhymes with fun鈥 and 鈥淪how us your Regina.鈥
The 鈥渃ity that rhymes with fun鈥 is an old joke, particularly by people who do not live in Regina, which often receives eye-rolls from locals.
Various citizens and women鈥檚 organizations have described the slogans and the campaign as lazy, lewd and sexist.
It drew international attention, particularly from popular late-night talk-show hosts who poked fun at it.
Experience Regina鈥檚 website has been off-line for more than a week. It hasn鈥檛 been active on social media since March 20.
Some city councillors have said they were blindsided when they learned of the slogans and have asked for accountability.
Wagner is demanding the city launch a full inquiry.
鈥(The inquiry) would certainly rout out those with the bad attitudes and perhaps provide an opportunity, a starting point, for re-educating people on how to treat women,鈥 she said.
Wagner has also asked for equal representation at the marketing table when the city creates ad campaigns and has called on Mayor Sandra Masters, councillors and staff to receive education about inclusivity, racism and sexual harassment.
Masters has said the slogans were sexist and wrong but does not think Reid should resign.
She was not able to immediately respond to protesters鈥 concerns Wednesday as she had to attend a city council meeting. She was expected to speak with reporters later in the day.
The mayor has said the slogans were not part of a presentation she saw in the lead-up to their launch.
This report by 好色tvwas first published April 5, 2023.
