Coordinates: 45°46′N 71°56′W / 45.767°N 71.933°W / 45.767; -71.933

Val-des-Sources

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Val-des-Sources
Town
Scene from Val-des-Sources
Scene from Val-des-Sources
Coat of arms of Val-des-Sources
Coat of arms
Official logo of Val-des-Sources
Logo
Motto: 
Non deserit alta
Location within Les Sources RCM.
Location within Les Sources RCM.
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Coordinates: Lua error in Module:Coordinates at line 489: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).[1]
CountryFile:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
ProvinceFile:Flag of Quebec.svg Quebec
RegionEstrie
RCMLes Sources
ConstitutedDecember 8, 1999
Name change[2]December 15, 2020
Government
[3]
 • MayorHugues Grimard
 • Federal ridingRichmond—Arthabaska
 • Prov. ridingRichmond
Area
[3][4]
 • Town
31.70 km2 (12.24 sq mi)
 • Land30.25 km2 (11.68 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[4]
 • Town
7,088
 • Density234.3/km2 (607/sq mi)
 • Urban
5,623
 • Pop 2016-2021
Increase 4.5%
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Postal code(s)
J1T
Area code819
HighwaysFile:Qc249.svg R-249
File:Qc255.svg R-255
Websitevaldessources.ca
File:Asbestos, Quebec, Canada.jpg
Canada's biggest power shovel loading an ore train with asbestos at the Jeffrey Mine, Johns-Manville Co., Asbestos, Quebec, June 1944.
File:Mine d'Asbestos.jpg
Dimensions of the mine in August 2011: width 2 km (1.2 mi), depth 370 metres (1,210 ft).

Val-des-Sources (French pronunciation: [val de suʁs]), meaning "Valley of the Springs", formerly known as Asbestos (pronounced [asbɛstɔs]), is a town on the Nicolet River in the Estrie (Eastern Townships) region of southeastern Quebec, Canada.[5] The town is the seat of Les Sources Regional County Municipality, formerly known as the Asbestos Regional County Municipality. The town covers an area of 30.25 square kilometres (11.68 mi2), including land acquired due to the merger of the City of Asbestos with the Municipality of Trois-Lacs on December 8, 1999.

At the 2021 census, 7,088 people resided in the town. It is situated in the centre of a square formed by the cities of Drummondville, Sherbrooke and Victoriaville, and the Nicolet River to the north.

Due to the negative connotations of the name Asbestos, discussions took place around whether the town should be renamed. A municipal referendum held in October 2020 selected the Val-des-Sources as the new name.[6] The change came into effect on December 15, 2020.[2]

History

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The town grew around the Jeffrey Mine, named after William Henry Jeffrey. The mine was the world’s largest source of asbestos and its dominant employer. It expanded so extensively over the decades that it physically encroached upon and reshaped the surrounding streets, neighbourhoods, and infrastructure.[7][8]

The town was the site of the 1949 Asbestos strike.

During the 1960s the town was thriving and could afford to expand and invest in its infrastructure and municipal architecture. It built a new modern town hall whose main hallway was adorned with a mural by the artist Denis Juneau, as well as some ceramic pieces in the church by famed ceramist Claude Vermette.

In 2000 the Magnola magnesium refinery began operation. The project was the brainchild of Noranda Inc, to repurpose waste asbestos tailings a proprietary electrolytic process.[9] By 2011 it had been shuttered.[10]

In summer of 2011, mayor Christian Lefrançois authorized the construction of two new asbestos mines, including at the infamous Jeffrey mine, known for its effects on the local residents’ health. However, in late 2011, the mine halted operations.[11] In June 2012, a $58-million loan was promised by the Quebec government to restart and operate the Jeffrey mine for the next 20 years.[12] Before the loan funds were delivered, the Parti Québécois defeated the Quebec Liberal Party in the September 2012 Quebec provincial election. The Parti Québécois followed through with an election promise to halt asbestos mining, cancel the loan, and fund economic diversification in the area.[13][14]

Name change

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At various times since the decline of asbestos mining, residents and politicians in the area have proposed changing the town's name due to its negative connotations;[15] however, past proposals often failed, with people involved in the debate noting, since the mineral is referred to as amiante rather than asbestos in French, its predominantly Francophone residents do not typically associate the town's name with the stigma around the mineral.[16]

A name change plan was approved by the municipal council in November 2019, with the new name chosen by a public poll.[17] On September 14, 2020, the mayor announced that residents would be able to vote to rename the town to either Apalone, Jeffrey, Phénix or Trois-Lacs.[18] The choices were not well received, and more names were added to the list. A referendum was held in October to allow the townspeople to choose from among six names: L'Azur-des-Cantons, Jeffrey-sur-le-Lac, Larochelle, Trois-Lacs, Val-des-Sources, or Phénix.[19] The referendum results were announced on October 19, 2020. 51.5% of voters chose the name Val-des-Sources in the third round of a preferential ballot.[20] In Quebec, a municipal name change must be proposed to the Commission de toponymie du Québec and then approved by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing before it takes effect,[21] which occurred on December 17, 2020. For most purposes the name change took immediate effect, although the town's rebranding of its own billboards was not expected to take place until January 2021, and Canada Post required until April 19, 2021, to complete the necessary changes in its postal addressing system.[22]

Some residents who remained opposed to the name change organized a petition drive calling on the Ministry of Municipal Affairs to deny its approval, on the grounds that not enough of the town's residents participated in the referendum, and that the referendum did not include any option to express a preference for maintaining the existing name.[23] Minister Andrée Laforest rejected the petition and approved the name change,[22] which came into effect on December 15, 2020.[2]

Demographics

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Historical populations
YearPop.±%
1901783—    
19112,224+184.0%
19212,189−1.6%
19314,396+100.8%
19415,711+29.9%
19518,190+43.4%
19568,969+9.5%
196111,083+23.6%
196610,534−5.0%
197110,254−2.7%
19769,075−11.5%
19817,967−12.2%
19866,961−12.6%
19916,487−6.8%
19966,271−3.3%
20016,580+4.9%
20066,819+3.6%
20117,096+4.1%
20166,786−4.4%
20217,088+4.5%
[24]

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Val-des-Sources had a population of 7,088 living in 3,460 of its 3,691 total private dwellings, a change of 4.5% from its 2016 population of 6,786. With a land area of 30.25 km2 (11.68 sq mi), it had a population density of 234.3/km2 (606.9/sq mi) in 2021.[25]

Canada census – Val-des-Sources community profile
202120162011
Population7.088 (+4.5% from 2016)6,786 (-4.4% from 2011)7,096 (+4.1% from 2006)
Land area30.25 km2 (11.68 sq mi)30.41 km2 (11.74 sq mi)29.67 km2 (11.46 sq mi)
Population density234.3/km2 (607/sq mi)223.1/km2 (578/sq mi)239.1/km2 (619/sq mi)
Median age55.2 (M: 52.4, F: 57.6)54.0 (M: 51.8, F: 56.2)51.1 (M: 48.4, F: 53.5)
Private dwellings3,691 (total)  3,503 (total)  3,467 (total) 
Median household income$48,000$41,301$36,994
Notes: Population in 1996: 6,793[26] (+4.7% from 1991) - Population in 1991: 6,487[26]
Includes corrections and updates for 1996.
References: 2021[27] 2016[28] 2011[29]

Religion (2021)[30]

Religion Population Percentage % (of total in Quebec)
Catholic 4,970 74.3% 0.11%
No religious affiliation 1,285 19.2% 0.06%
Protestant 110 1.6% 0.40%
Muslim 25 0.4% 0.006%
Canada 2021 Census Population % of Total Population
Visible minority group
Source:[31]
Latin American 50 0.7
Arab 25 0.4
Chinese 15 0.2
South Asian 10 0.1
Total visible minority population 125 1.9
Indigenous group
Source:[31]		 First Nations 95 1.4
Métis 50 0.7
Total Aboriginal population 145 2.2
White 6,425 96.0
Total population 6,695 100

In terms of mother tongue, the 2021 census found that, including multiple responses, almost 97% of residents spoke French, and about 3% of residents spoke English. The next most commonly reported first languages learned were Spanish, Arabic and Italian.[32]

Mother Tongue Population (2016) Percentage (2016) Population (2021) Percentage (2021)
French 6,505 97.2% 6,650 96.1%
English 90 1.3% 140 2.0%
English and French 40 0.6% 60 0.9%
English, French and a non-official language 5 0.1% 5 0.1%
French and a non-official language 0 0.0% 5 0.1%
Multiple non-official languages 0 0.0% 5 0.1%
Spanish 15 0.1% 25 0.4%
Arabic 10 0.1% 5 0.1%
German 10 0.1% 5 0.1%
Italian 5 0.1% 5 0.1%
Mandarin 5 0.1% 5 0.1%
Tagalog 5 0.1% 0 0.0%
Polish 5 0.1% 0 0.0%
Ukrainian 5 0.1% 0 0.0%
Canada Census Mother Tongue - Val-des-Sources, Quebec[24]
Census Total
French
English
French & English
Other
Year Responses Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop %
2021
6,920
 6,650 Increase 2.2% 96.1% 140 Increase 55.6% 2.0% 60 Increase 20.0% 0.9% 55 Increase 22.2% 0.8%
2016
6,695
 6,505 Decrease 4.0% 97.2% 90 Decrease 21.7% 1.3% 40 Steady 0.0% 0.6% 45 Increase 80.0% 0.7%
2011
6,955
 6,775 Increase 4.9% 97.4% 115 Increase 43.8% 1.7% 40 Increase 60.0% 0.6% 25 Decrease 73.7% 0.4%
2006
6,660
 6,460 Increase 2.1% 97.0% 80 Decrease 11.1% 1.2% 25 Increase 150.0% 0.4% 95 Increase 850.0% 1.4%
2001
6,435
 6,325 Increase 5.8% 98.3% 90 Increase 5.9% 1.4% 10 Increase n/a% 0.2% 10 Decrease 66.7% 0.2%
1996
6,095
 5,980 n/a 98.1% 85 n/a 1.4% 0 n/a 0.0% 30 n/a 0.5%

Economy

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Transportation

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The two most important roads entering Val-des-Sources are Road 249, connecting Val-des Sources to Magog, via Sherbrooke and Road 255 connecting Baie-du-Febvre to Bury while passing through Val-des-Sources and Saint-Cyrille-de-Wendover.

Attractions

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Close to downtown Val-des-Sources, outdoor enthusiasts can take advantage of the Trois Lacs resort, the golf club or the cycle path. Also, the Festival des Gourmands is the main festive event in the city. Music is a big part of the city thanks to the Harmonie d'Asbestos, an institution long recognized throughout the region during the years 1945-60 and the Camp musical d'Asbestos, which welcomes young musicians from all over Quebec.

Government

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In the 2021 municipal elections, Hugues Grimard was reelected unopposed as mayor of Val-des-Sources. Grimard was initially elected in 2009, defeating the incumbent mayor Jean-Philippe Bachand with 52% of the votes. Bachand tried unsuccessfully to unseat Grimard and regain his former seat in the 2013 election but Grimard was re-elected with 60% of the votes. In the 2017 elections, Bachand finally return to city council by winning a seat as a councillor but he was unseated in 2021 when Isabelle Forcier won his councillor seat with 60% of the votes.[33][34]

Current Government[when?]

Mayor: Hugues Grimard

Councillors:

  1. Isabelle Forcier
  2. Andréanne Ladouceur
  3. René Lachance
  4. Caroline Prayer
  5. Jean Roy
  6. Pierre Benoit

Notable people

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See also

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References

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  4. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  5. ^ "Asbestos" in The New Encyclopædia Britannica. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 15th edn., 1992, Vol. 1, p. 613.
  6. ^ "Quebec town of Asbestos votes to change name to Val des Sources". CityNews, October 19, 2020.
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  13. ^ Quebec Budget: Finance Minister Nicolas Marceau tightens spending, levies new taxes Archived November 29, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  15. ^ "Five years after asbestos mine closure, Quebec town seeks new identity". The Globe and Mail, August 25, 2016.
  16. ^ Amy Luft, "Tired of being linked to toxic substance, the Quebec town of Asbestos is changing its name". CTV News Montreal, November 27, 2019.
  17. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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  20. ^ Jérémy Bernier, "Asbestos devient Val-des-Sources". Le Journal de Québec, October 19, 2020.
  21. ^ "Town of Asbestos chooses new name: Val-des-Sources". Montreal Gazette, October 20, 2020.
  22. ^ a b "Town of Asbestos officially renamed to Val-Des-Sources". CTV News Montreal, December 17, 2020.
  23. ^ Michel Saba, "Citizens had 'illusory power' in renaming, says man behind Asbestos petition". Montreal Gazette, October 22, 2020.
  24. ^ a b Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 census
  25. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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  30. ^ Canada. 2023 2021 Community Profiles. Released November 25, 2023.
  31. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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