Canadian asbestos mining areas being renamed
The province of Quebec, Canada has long been home to Canada’s asbestos mining industry, and some areas and communities are named for the mineral. Although names proclaiming that connection were popular a hundred years ago, asbestos-related names have become decidedly less attractive today.
Quebec’s place-names commission is busy approving requests to replace those out-of-favor names. The regional body that was MRC de L’Amiante (which means asbestos in French) will become the MRC des Appalaches. Other local entities have also jettisoned the amiante name, including an area college, hospital, school board and chamber of commerce. In the nearby town of Asbestos, Quebec, the regional council and chamber of commerce have changed their names to des Sources, although the town itself remains Asbestos.
For the full story, go to Canada’s Globe and Mail.
