Asbestos, Quebec Is Letting Citizens Choose The City's New Name & The Options Are...Unique
A town's name serves an important purpose. Whether it tells a story about the town's history or honours some British dude who built a church, a town's name reflects what it's all about. As a town that frequently makes the list as one of the weirdest names in the country, Asbestos, Quebec decided to part ways with that unfortunate moniker in 2019 and now, it's up to the citizens to choose the town's new name.
"After having established selection criteria, [we] gathered several hundred suggestions and consulted the social acceptability committee," wrote the town's officials in a Facebook post.
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"The municipal council retained the following proposals: Apalone, Jeffrey, Phénix and Trois-Lacs."
On first look, that list of names might seem random and won't help Ville d'Asbestos get off those 'weirdest names' list, but it might be a step in the right direction.
City officials have opened up voting to all citizens of Asbestos. Anyone aged 14 and older can visit Asbestos city hall to cast their votes from Wednesday, October 14 to Sunday, October 18 between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Apalone
The name refers to a small turtle that inhabits the lakes and rivers around the region. Due to climate change and pollution, the turtle is now one of the most endangered animals in the province.
Phénix
Referring to the mythical bird that rises from the ashes, the name is apt due to its connotations and it just so happens that the local high school sports team is named the Phénix. This one would have my vote.
Jeffrey
No, this name doesn't refer to that thing that makes you want to stroke a furry wall but instead to the founder of the city's infamous asbestos mine, William Henry Jeffrey.
Trois-Lacs
This designation refers to the area in the northeastern part of the municipality, which merged with Asbestos in 1999. The name is also taken from Les Trois-Lacs, a major body of water in the region.
Which name is your favourite?