Illustration: Flag of Canada.

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Pierre Roussel / NEWSCOM / SIPA

She wanted to shed the negative connotation of her name.

The Quebec city of Asbestos (Canada), which means “asbestos” in English, will now be called Val-des-Sources, the mayor announced on Monday, unveiling the results of a referendum he said “historic”.

The history of Asbestos, a town of 6,700 inhabitants located about a hundred kilometers east of Montreal, is in fact closely linked to the immense Jeffrey asbestos mine that adjoins it, operated until 2012. The municipality wished to change its 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 announcement of the decision to change the name.

A choice among six proposals

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 , Phénix and Trois-Lacs.

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 choice of Val-des-Sources was unveiled during an extraordinary meeting of the municipal 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.

Asbestrians should officially become Valsourciens in December, once their choice has been approved by the competent authorities.

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