I won't say that we weren't surprised a bit. It's a nice gesture but there's room for improvement.

Valerie Langlois,
a spokeswoman for Quebec's International Affairs Department,
MONTREAL February 15, 2007 (CP)

LA VACHIBOU DÉROUTANTE
It's, Ah, Transcultural And Multi-gendered

There is nothing funnier than an unfunny joke delivered in earnest. Unless it is its polite but baffled reception.

ODD MASCOT IS FRANCE'S GIFT TO QUEBEC CITY

MONTREAL February 15, 2007 (NatPost) - In a puzzling goodwill gesture, the French government has crafted a distinctive mascot for next year's 400th anniversary of Quebec City -- a dairy cow with antlers.

The brainchild of a young French graphic designer, the hybrid animal is intended to invoke the famous dairy cattle of Normandy, homeland of Quebec's original settlers, and the wild caribou that roam the Quebec tundra.

It was only when a French delegation led by former prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin arrived in Quebec this week that their hosts pointed out that the antlers atop the cow belonged to a moose, not a caribou. Adjustments will be made so the mascot dubbed the Vachibou (Cowibou) is as anatomically correct as possible.

... An article in yesterdays' Journal de Quebec, under the headline "A strange mascot," reported that the Vachibou was an instant butt of jokes. "In the opinion of some, all that was missing were feathers and a beaver's tail to make the full tour of Quebec folklore. Why not have it coming out of a log cabin, too?"

... Serge Allen, Quebec City's commissioner for the 400th anniversary celebrations, declined to offer a critique of the mascot, although he did point out that it is odd for a female cow to have a male moose's antlers.

... Quebec is understandably reluctant to look a gift cow in the mouth, considering that France is promising to spend at least $12-million to help the province celebrate next year.

Of course, they could just rename this botch the moose-à-vache, or better still, the truc franco-québécois. That should cover the conceptual defects.

PFFT (What is this?): Fabriqué en France 5 | Getting that nuance-thing right 0 | Rayonnement français 0