A last, a name for Chelsea residents

Christian Rochefort

After 150 years and a public consultation, Chelsea residents now have a name: chelsiens and chelsiennes

The mayor of the municipality, Mr. Pierre Guénard, unveiled the demonym  in the presence of political representatives and members of the public at La Fab on Mill in Chelsea, on September 15th.

This demonym was chosen from among 60 submitted to Chelsea City Council – 24 of which were retained – between May 5 and 28. The proposals had to meet three criteria: 1) be pronounced well in both official languages, 2) be gender-inclusive or gender-neutral, and 3) meet the standards of the Quebec toponymic guide.

The first municipal council meeting took place in 1875 and since then, Chelsea residents have never had a name to designate them, unlike other cities such as Gatinois and Gatinoises for residents of Gatineau and Ottaviens and Ottaviennes for people from Ottawa.

It was Mr. Stéphane Tremblay who, after moving to Chelsea in 2021, realized that there was no designation for Chelsea residents. After fruitless research, he spoke to the mayor of the municipality and it was decided that finding a demonym would be a great project for Chelsea's 150th anniversary. His suggestion was ultimately accepted by the Commission de Toponymie du Québec and the municipal council.

And there is social acceptability for the new name.