Val-des-Sources

The town was the site of the 1949 Asbestos strike.

The town is near to the site of the Jeffrey mine, which used to be the world's largest asbestos mine,{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zNicdkuulE4C&pg=PA196 |page=196 |title=Industrial minerals & rocks: commodities, markets, and uses |isbn=978-0-87335-233-8 |author=Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration (U.S.)|date=March 5, 2006}} which was once the town's largest employer.

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.{{cite news |first=John |last=Ayres |publisher=Environment Canada |url=https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2016-02/documents/conf00_ayres_paper.pdf |title=Canadian Perspective on SF6 Management from Magnesium Industry |date=2000}} By 2011 it had been shuttered.{{cite book |editor-last1=Kapusta |editor-first1=Joël |editor-last2=Mackey |editor-first2=Phillip |editor-last3=Stubina |editor-first3=Nathan |title=The Canadian Metallurgical & Materials Landscape 1960 - 2011 |url=https://store.cim.org/en/commemorative-book-the-canadian-materials-landscape-1960-2011 |publisher=Canadian Institute of Metallurgy |date=2011 |chapter=Magnesium Metal Production in Canada |first1=D. |last1=Creber |first2=B. |last2=Davis |first3=S. |last3=Kashani-Nejad}}

In summer of 2011, mayor at the time Christian Lefrançois had authorized the construction of 2 new asbestos mine including the infamous Jeffrey mine, known for its effects on the local residents’ health. In late 2011, one of the last two remaining asbestos mines in Canada, the Jeffrey mine, halted operations.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/asbestos-mining-stops-for-first-time-in-130-years-1.1103672|title=Asbestos mining stops for first time in 130 years|access-date=February 6, 2017}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://thechronicleherald.ca/canada/112512-asbestos-mine-reboot-with-quebec-cash-sparks-criticism|title=Asbestos mine reboot with Quebec cash sparks criticism|date=April 14, 2014|access-date=February 6, 2017}} In September 2012, before the loan funds were delivered, the Parti Québécois defeated the Quebec Liberal Party in the Quebec provincial election. The Parti Québécois followed through with an election promise to halt asbestos mining and to cancel the loan, and put funding toward economic diversification in the area.[https://ottawacitizen.com/news/Quebec+Budget+Finance+Minister+Nicolas+Marceau+tightens/7586017/story.html Quebec Budget: Finance Minister Nicolas Marceau tightens spending, levies new taxes] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121129012206/http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Quebec%2BBudget%2BFinance%2BMinister%2BNicolas%2BMarceau%2Btightens/7586017/story.html |date=November 29, 2012}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/canada-won-t-oppose-asbestos-limits-1.1254033|title=Canada won't oppose asbestos limits|access-date=February 6, 2017}}

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;[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/five-years-after-asbestos-mine-closure-quebec-town-seeks-new-identity/article31569391/ "Five years after asbestos mine closure, Quebec town seeks new identity"]. The Globe and Mail, August 25, 2016. however, past proposals often failed, with people involved in the debate noting that because the town is predominantly francophone and the mineral is referred to as amiante rather than asbestos in French, its residents do not typically associate the town's name with the stigma around the mineral.Amy Luft, [https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/tired-of-being-linked-to-toxic-substance-the-quebec-town-of-asbestos-is-changing-its-name-1.4705362 "Tired of being linked to toxic substance, the Quebec town of Asbestos is changing its name"]. CTV News Montreal, November 27, 2019.

A name change plan was approved by the municipal council in November 2019, with the new name chosen by a public poll.{{cite news |last=Olson |first=Isaac |date=November 27, 2019 |title=Town of Asbestos, Que., changing its name |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/asbestos-quebec-change-name-1.5375703 |work=CBC News |access-date=November 28, 2019}} 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.{{cite news |last1=Lowrie |first1=Morgan |title=Asbestos halts name change process after residents say they hate the alternatives |url=https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/city-of-asbestos-name-change-process-hits-snag-residents-hate-the-alternatives |access-date=18 October 2020 |agency=Canadian Press |publisher=Montreal Gazette |date=September 18, 2020}} The choices were not well received, and more names were added to the list. The 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.{{cite news |last=Leavitt |first=Sarah |date=October 18, 2020 |title=Set to be renamed, Asbestos, Que., grapples with history, identity |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/asbestos-quebec-renamed-history-1.5765156 |work=CBC News |access-date=October 18, 2020}} 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.Jérémy Bernier, [https://www.journaldequebec.com/2020/10/19/adieu-asbestos-bienvenue-a-val-des-sources-1 "Asbestos devient Val-des-Sources"]. Le Journal de Québec, October 19, 2020. 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,[https://montrealgazette.com/news/quebec/town-of-asbestos-chooses-new-name-val-des-sources "Town of Asbestos chooses new name: Val-des-Sources"]. Montreal Gazette, October 20, 2020. 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.[https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/town-of-asbestos-officially-renamed-to-val-des-sources-1.5235546 "Town of Asbestos officially renamed to Val-Des-Sources"]. CTV News Montreal, December 17, 2020.

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.Michel Saba, [https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/citizens-had-illusory-power-in-renaming-says-man-behind-asbestos-petition "Citizens had 'illusory power' in renaming, says man behind Asbestos petition"]. Montreal Gazette, October 22, 2020. Minister Andrée Laforest rejected the petition and approved the name change, which came into effect on December 15, 2020.

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.

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.

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.{{cite web | url=https://www.latribune.ca/2021/05/23/hugues-grimard-sollicitera-un-quatrieme-mandat-a-la-mairie-de-val-des-sources-1a45bd9414f372f50101ad4c4a1bebeb | title=Hugues Grimard sollicitera un quatrième mandat à la mairie de Val-des-Sources | date=23 May 2021 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.letincelle.qc.ca/actualites/politique/435498/jean-philippe-bachand-sollicitera-de-nouveau-la-confiance-des-electeurs-de-val-des-sources | title=Jean-Philippe Bachand sollicitera de nouveau la confiance des électeurs de Val-des-Sources }}

Current Government{{when|date=June 2024}}

Mayor: Hugues Grimard

Councillors:

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

{{stack|{{Historical populations

|title = Historical populations

|type = Canada

|align = right

|width =

|state = Quebec

|shading =

|percentages =

|footnote =

|1996|6793

|2001|6580

|2006|6819

|2011|7096

|2016|6786

|2021|7088

}}}}

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Val-des-Sources had a population of {{val|7088|fmt=commas}} living in {{val|3460|fmt=commas}} of its {{val|3691|fmt=commas}} total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:7088-6786}}|6786|1}} from its 2016 population of {{val|6786|fmt=commas}}. With a land area of {{convert|30.25|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|7088|30.25|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 2021.{{cite web | url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810000202&geocode=A000224 | title=Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), Quebec | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=February 9, 2022 | accessdate=August 29, 2022}}

{{canada census

|2011_population=7,096 | 2011_pop_delta=+4.1 | 2011_land_area=29.67 | 2011_pop_density=239.1

|2011_median_age=51.1 | 2011_median_age_m=48.4 | 2011_median_age_f=53.5

|2011_total_pvt_dwell=3,467 | 2011_mean_hh_income=36,994 | 2011_access_date=January 28, 2014

|2006_population=6,819 |2006_pop_delta=+3.6 |2006_land_area=29.67 |2006_pop_density=229.8

|2006_pop_rank=530th |2006_median_age=49.5 |2006_median_age_m=48.0 |2006_median_age_f=51.0

|2006_total_pvt_dwell=3,429 |2006_mean_hh_income=36,678 |2006_access_date=August 18, 2011

|2001_population=6,580 | 2001_pop_delta=-3.1 | 2001_land_area=29.67 | 2001_pop_density=221.7

|2001_median_age=46.4 | 2001_median_age_m=44.5 | 2001_median_age_f=48.0

|2001_total_pvt_dwell=3,375 | 2001_mean_hh_income=33,133 | 2001_access_date=February 9, 2012

|notes= Population in 1996: 6,793{{cite web|url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/english/census01/info/census96.cfm |title=Electronic Area Profiles |publisher=Statistics Canada |work=Canada 1996 Census |access-date=May 11, 2013}} (+4.7% from 1991) - Population in 1991: 6,487
Includes [http://www12.statcan.ca/english/profil01/CP01/Help/Metadata/Flags.cfm?Lang=E&Flag=A corrections and updates for 1996.]

}}

Religion (2001)[https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=2440043&Geo2=PR&Code2=24&Data=Count&SearchText=asbestos&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= Canada. 2002. 2001 Community Profiles. Released June 27, 2002].

In terms of mother tongue, the 2016 census found that, including multiple responses, almost 98% of residents spoke French, and about 2% of residents spoke English. The next most commonly reported first languages learned were Spanish, Arabic and German.{{cite web | title = Asbestos, V | work = Detailed Mother Tongue (103), Knowledge of Official Languages (5), Age Groups (17A) and Sex (3) for the Population of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, 2006 Census - 20% Sample Data | publisher = Statistics Canada | date = 2017-11-29 | url = https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=2440043&Geo2=PR&Code2=24&SearchText=asbestos&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&TABID=1&type=1 | access-date = 2022-05-11}}

• Jennie Carignan
• Pierre-Philippe Côté
• Jayson Dénommée
• Jean Hamel
• Denis Patry
• Sean McKenna
• Gilles Hamel

• List of cities in Quebec
• Asbest, similarly named town in Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia
• Chrysotile

{{Reflist|2|refs=

{{Cite web|url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=asbestos&DGUIDlist=2021A00052440043,2021S05100023&GENDERlist=1&STATISTIClist=1&HEADERlist=0|title=Data table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Val-des-Sources, Ville (V) [Census subdivision], Quebec;Asbestos [Population centre], Quebec|date=9 February 2022}}

{{mamrot |type=municipalite |40043}}

{{toponymie |2261}}

}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{Official website|https://valdessources.ca/}} {{In lang|fr}}

{{Geographic location

| title = Adjacent Municipal Subdivisions

| Northwest =

| North = Danville / Tingwick

| Northeast = Saint-Rémi-de-Tingwick

| West = Danville

| Centre = Val-des-Sources

| East = Wotton

| Southwest =

| South = Danville

| Southeast =

}}

{{Les Sources RCM|state=collapsed}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Cities and towns in Quebec