(CNN) — You’d suppose something could be higher than having your city named after a extremely poisonous constructing materials, however the residents of Asbestos, Canada, may disagree.
The townspeople on this unusually monikered Quebecois metropolis will vote in October on a brand new city title, because the damaging connotations have lengthy been hindering enterprise and tourism endeavors.
The alternatives chosen by the municipal council, nevertheless, are proving controversial.
The town initially grew from the event of an asbestos mine round a big deposit of the substance found there in 1897. For many years, the city thrived on asbestos mining and product manufacturing.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring, however very poisonous, substance as soon as extensively used for insulation. It has been banned in Canada since 2018.
All residents over the age of 14 might be allowed to vote on the brand new title between October 14 and 18.
“I’m very proud of the method we’ve got adopted all through the method and particularly with the involvement of our inhabitants. I invite our residents to come back and vote in giant numbers!,” mentioned Mayor Hugues Grimard in an announcement.
On this Francophone city, “ridicule!” (“ridiculous!”) is a recurring phrase within the feedback.
Jeffrey refers to W. H. Jeffrey, who bankrolled the city’s Jeffrey asbestos mine.
Critics argue that this might be persevering with to shackle the city to its asbestos legacy and in addition honoring the cash males not directly linked to the deaths of many employees.
Phénix — Phoenix in English — is a straightforward reference to the mythic fowl of rebirth. With none connection to native historical past, this additionally has proved an unsatisfying option to many citizens.
There have been cries on social media complaining of a “lack of transparency” relating to the council’s decisions.
The ruckus has been such that the Metropolis of Asbestos’ basic supervisor Georges-André Gagné was pressured on September 16 to difficulty a second assertion addressing the truth that “some folks have expressed their disagreement with the names proposed” and “calling for a constructive and respectful debate.”
Alexandre Côte spoke for a number of of probably the most vocal residents when he wrote on Fb, “Actually, it is a setup to get Trois-Lacs! The remainder of the names are actually terrible.”
All of the kerfuffle has some residents declaring that they wish to preserve the city title as it’s, poisonous historical past be damned.
Mentioned Ginette Frichette, “I am towards the title change. I used to be born in Asbestos and I wish to die in Asbestos.”
CNN’s Elizabeth Wolfe and Brian Ries contributed to this report.
