Canada’s distinguished history magazine-an institution for almost 100 years, was forced to change its name due to the issues it caused with spam filters. The magazine’s former name, The Beaver, refers to Canada’s beloved national symbol, but it’s also a rather crude sexual reference to a female’s lower region. The magazine’s unintended connotation got it blocked by most spam filters. The magazine’s publisher intends to use the Internet to increase the magazine’s loyal but aging subscriber base.

          “There were some really unfortunate but practical reasons why The Beaver couldn’t be the universal brand,” said publisher Deborah Morrison. “That’s the factor why it was a deterrent — particularly amongst women and people under the age of 45. Unfortunately, sometimes words take on an identity that wasn’t intended in 1920, when it was all about the fur trade. People were literally writing us and saying, ‘We can’t get your e-newsletter because it’s being spam-filtered out, can you change the title of the heading?’ “

The magazine, which was launched in 1920, at first covered only the booming fur trade in the country, but over the past decade or so has expanded to cover all aspects of Canadian history. Its first issue under the new name-Canada’s History-will go on sale in April.