Post orginially published 19 Aug 2023
Dildo is a local service district and designated place in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador on the island of Newfoundland. It is located on the southeastern Dildo Arm of Trinity Bay about 100 kilometres (62 mi) west of St. John's. South Dildo is a community located to the south, and in 2021 had 195 residents. It is known for its unusual name.
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Lets get the elephent in the room about the place name out of the way. lol
At one time, "dildo" was a term for the oar pegs in a dory, the pivot points where the oars rest while rowing. There was also a type of short sword called a "dildo." The town could have been named after one of these objects.
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In recent years Dildo got a new sign in the town.
Thanks to Jimmy Kimmel.
In August 2019, the American late-night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live! focused on Dildo over a number of episodes.
As part of the activity, host Jimmy Kimmel was made honorary mayor of Dildo (the community is governed by a volunteer committee and does not have an elected mayor), and Guillermo Rodriguez, who is known as Kimmel's sidekick "security guard", was made an honorary citizen of Dildo through the Newfoundland tradition of 'screeching in,' on the August 15, 2019, broadcast of the show.
Rodriguez visited the community for a week. Kimmel declared Hollywood as Dildo's sister city. As part of his gesture, he also gave the community a sign (in the style of the Hollywood sign) which sits on the hillside overlooking the community.
It was a pretty cool time. Jimmy did plan on visiting but as we know Covid19 caused a lot of stuff not to happen.
The Dildo area has a long history, going as far back as 2000 BC when Maritime Archaic aboriginal people resided at Anderson's Cove.
By 700 AD, people of the Dorset culture inhabited Dildo Island.
In 1613, Henry Crout, whilst sailing up Dildo Arm, came in contact with the Beothuks, who were residing on Dildo Island at this time. He traded with them and left gifts.
In 1711, during Queen Anne's War, the inhabitants of Trinity Bay were ordered by Governor Crow to leave their homes during the winter, to defend themselves against the French, who burned their houses. Dildo Island was one of the places designated for this purpose. The town of Dildo was founded in the late 18th century and settled to exploit the abundance of marine resources such as fish (mostly cod), whales and seals.
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