The Canadian town of Asbestos has decided to mine out a new name, sources recently said.
The Quebec town Asbestos, which has a population of 7,000 people, will rebrand as “Val-des-Sources,” according to BBC News.
- “It’s a name that represents our area, and especially, it’s inspiring for the future,” said the Quebec town’s mayor, Hugues Grimard, according to The Guardian.
History:
The original name came from the town’s mining history, according to BBC News. And that makes sense since asbestos is a mineral that causes mesothelioma. The town is also home to the world’s largest asbestos mine. So, yeah.
- However, officials said the link between the mineral and the town name made it hard for the town to see any foreign investment, according to BBC News.
- “Once upon a time, we have been very proud of that name, but now it’s very difficult because asbestos means a fibre that people are afraid of,” Louise Moisan-Coulombe, mayor of the town from 1997 to 2002, told CBC. “Every time you say, especially in the United States, that you are coming from Asbestos, or they read Asbestos on a package, they are always afraid that it will be poison.”
What happened:
The town started a competition in November 2019 for a new name. It was newly announced this week after town residents voted. People as young as 14 years old were allowed to vote for the new name.
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The other options available: L’Azur-des-Cantons, Jeffrey-sur-le-Lac, Larochelle, Phénix and Trois-Lacs.