Goodbye, Asbestos: Quebec Town Picks Another Name to Help Economy

Town to become Val-des-Sources, move on from deadly mineral
Asbestos sustained economy for decades, now spooks investors

A resident wearing a protective mask fills out a ballot for a new town name at a drive-through polling station in Asbestos, Quebec, Canada, on Oct. 16. The town used geography, history and a touch of poetry among the options to replace a name associated with cancer in English.Photographer: Christinne Muschi/Bloomberg

Have a confidential tip for our reporters? Get in Touch

Before it’s here, it’s on the Bloomberg Terminal

LEARN MORE

By Sandrine Rastello

October 19, 2020 at 8:25 PM EDT

Updated on

October 20, 2020 at 6:30 AM EDT

This article is for subscribers only.

The people of Asbestos, Quebec, broke away from the past by choosing a poetic name for their town in a historic vote ending their association with the deadly mineral.

The town of about 7,000 people will be renamed Val-des-Sources, which means “valley of springs” in French, Mayor Hugues Grimard announced Monday night. The moniker beat five other options on a preferential ballot.

Have a confidential tip for our reporters? Get in Touch

Before it’s here, it’s on the Bloomberg Terminal

LEARN MORE