Results: Goodbye Asbestos, Hello Jeffrey?
Published on 09/21/2020
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1.
1.
If there's anyone who knows what Corona Beer went through this year, it's the town of Asbestos, Quebec. The town north east of Montreal has decided to officially change its name from Asbestos, and sever its connection to the banned building mineral that was mined years ago, but still casts a negative shadow over the town. Because the mineral is a known as amiante in French, the town's name isn't really a problem locally. It's when officials travel outside of Quebec or the town is looking for outside investors that people react strongly to the name. Do you agree a name change would be a good move?
Yes
47%
1087 votes
No
19%
449 votes
Undecided
34%
798 votes
2.
2.
The town's asbestos mine closed in 2011, but name-change discussions date back to at least 2006. Now, the town has decided enough is enough, and are proposing a number of alternative names. Which proposed name do you think would be best for the town?
Jeffrey -- the name of the mine that opened in 1879 and closed in 2011
10%
234 votes
Apalone -- is in honour of a turtle species that is native to North America
14%
322 votes
Phénix -- means Phoenix in French, in honour of a legendary firebird that regenerates and "rises from the ashes" of its former self, so to speak. A fitting moniker for a town that wishes to be, in many ways, reborn.
17%
402 votes
Trois-Lacs -- refers to a specific neighbourhood in the town.
8%
192 votes
No idea or no opinion
51%
1184 votes
3.
3.
It is not the first time a name change has been proposed for a town, and probably not the last. These towns (or cities) all changed their names -- which have you heard about?
Truth or Consequences, New Mexico -- was Hot Springs, and the name change was in a contest to host the famous game show in 1950
20%
475 votes
DISH, Texas -- Formerly Clark, this Texan town became DISH in 2005 in a deal with a satellite TV company. All the residents were given a free 10-year subscription in return.
7%
168 votes
Regina, Saskatchewan -- Back in the 19th Century it was known as "Pile-of-Bones", in reference to the Native Canadian buffalo graveyards
12%
270 votes
Kitchener, Ontario -- Due to the large number of German immigrants, this Ontario town was once known as Berlin.
12%
270 votes
Sleepy Hollow, New York -- In an effort to cash in on its fame as the setting for Washington Irving's short story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" the town of Tarrytown officially changed its name in 1996
17%
401 votes
All
2%
58 votes
None
56%
1310 votes
4.
4.
For obvious reasons, the northern community of Swastika, Ontario faced calls to change its name following the rise of the Nazis. It refused to bow to pressure and retains its questionable name, which has been an old Sanskrit symbol for good luck since long before it was appropriated by Hitler. Do you think this name should be changed?
Yes
40%
945 votes
No
26%
618 votes
Undecided
33%
771 votes
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