Val-des-Sources

Val-des-Sources
Town
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.
Val-des-Sources is located in Southern Quebec
Val-des-Sources
Val-des-Sources
Location in southern Quebec.
Coordinates: 45°46′N 71°56′W / 45.767°N 71.933°W / 45.767; -71.933[1]
Country Canada
Province 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]
 • Town31.70 km2 (12.24 sq mi)
 • Land30.25 km2 (11.68 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[4]
 • Town7,088
 • 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
Highways R-249
R-255
Websitevaldessources.ca
Canada's biggest power shovel loading an ore train with asbestos at the Jeffrey Mine, Johns-Manville Co., Asbestos, Quebec, June 1944.
Dimensions of the mine in August 2011: width 2 km (1 mile), depth 370 metres (1200').

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 (11.5 sq mi), 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]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference toponymie was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b "Interim List of Changes to Municipal Boundaries, Status and Names: From January 2nd, 2016 to January 1st, 2021" (PDF). Statistics Canada. November 21, 2021. p. 35. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference mamrot was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference cp2021Asbestos was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  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.