The Quebec city of Asbestos wanted to get rid of the negative connotation of its name, which means asbestos in English: it will now be called Val-des-Sources, the mayor announced on Monday, revealing the results of a referendum according to him
"Historical"
.
Read also: Asbestos is present in most schools
The history of Asbestos, a town of 6,700 inhabitants located about a hundred kilometers east of Montreal, is closely linked to the immense Jeffrey asbestos mine which adjoins it, operated until 2012. The municipality wanted change of name in particular for economic reasons.
"The word
Asbestos
unfortunately does not have a good connotation, particularly in English-speaking circles, it constitutes a brake on the city's desire to develop economic relations abroad"
, explained the municipality in November 2019, to the announcement of the decision to change the name.
The new name was unveiled during a special meeting of the city council broadcast live on the municipality's Facebook page.
"Not only will our municipality change its name, but we have done it in a unique way,"
said Mayor Hugues Grimard, referring to a
"historic moment"
.
Last week, Asbestrians aged 14 and over were called to vote by ranking the names in order of preference among six proposals: Val-des-Sources, Azur-des-Cantons, Jeffrey-sur-le-Lac, Larochelle, Phoenix and Trois-Lacs.
Read also: Asbestos is claiming more and more victims
The proposals, which came from the inhabitants, had to respect several criteria, including that of illustrating
“the history of the city, but without direct connotation with asbestos”
.
The choices had to inspire in particular
"a dynamic and unifying name"
and be
"of the French language"
.
The Asbestrians should officially become Valsourciens in December, once their choice has been approved by the competent authorities, hopes the mayor.
