This small town in Canada has a big sign that rivals Hollywood’s
If you’re exploring Newfoundland for the first time, you’ll have no trouble finding Dildo.
Unlike the capital city, St. Johns, which boasts around 132,160 people, Dildo is much quieter and a lot smaller; it has a population of just 803 according to the last StatsCan census.
But what Dildo lacks in size, it more than makes up for in name recognition.
On a private hill that overlooks the community sits a giant white DILDO sign, the town’s homage to the infamous Hollywood landmark.
Naturally, it has become one of the town’s biggest attractions and a favourite photo stop for visitors.
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How did the town get its name?
Dildo. Not a word many people can say out loud without blushing.
We can tell you this much: It was NOT named after the object you’re probably thinking about.
The origin of the name remains something of a mystery, with several theories floating around. It’s been suggested that Dildo may take its name from nearby Dildo Island. One theory is that the French name for the island was “De l’île de l’eau” (meaning “from the island of water”), which may have been anglicized over time.
It wouldn’t have been the first, as several towns in Newfoundland have been anglicized over time, including Twillingate, Belleoram, and Codroy.
Newfoundlanders have always been pretty clever and creative when it comes to naming things: Tickle Bay, Cuckolds Cove, Blow Me Down Provincial Park, Come By Chance, to name just a few examples.
You sort of get the feeling a certain something was on their minds, you know?
How did the town get its sign?
Dildo’s fame really took off in 2019, when American late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel discovered the town and its quirky name. He mentioned Dildo in a funny segment on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and even sent his sidekick Guillermo to go out there to film live reports for the show.
Kimmel loved Dildo so much that he decided to run for mayor! Unofficially, of course. He even had his staff put up “Jimmy Hearts Dildo: Kimmel for Mayor” signs around the community.
According to The Canadian Press, the town’s giant Hollywood-style sign was actually a gift from Kimmel himself, who films his show in Los Angeles.
Since the sign was erected, the town has made several social media posts reminding visitors that the hillside is private property and asking people not to trespass or climb on the sign. But that’s not to say you can’t admire it and take photos from afar.
While you’re there, there’s plenty more to do in Dildo. You can stop by the Treasure Trove, enjoy the waters on a boat tour, stay at the Dildo Boathouse Inn, or grab a bite at The Dildo Dory Grill (say that ten times fast!).
Just don’t forget your camera.