For it's 150th anniversary, Chelsea adopts an official demonym

Following a participatory process lasting several weeks, the Municipality of Chelsea has officially adopted the terms Chelsien to refer to its residents in both official languages. The Council made it official with a unanimous vote at a special meeting held this yesterday.

Changing the last two letters of Chelsea (ea) to (i) makes the demonym easier to pronounce, while maintaining a clear link to the place name. This choice was also distinguished by its linguistic fluidity in both official languages, its brevity, and its easy-to-guess pronunciation.

Of the 60 proposals received during the public consultation last May, 24 were selected because they met the established criteria. The Commission de toponymie du Québec (CTQ) then conducted a technical evaluation based on how the proposals were formed and on four essential qualities: clarity, brevity, harmonious sound, and absence of pejorative connotations.

Only two proposals received positive feedback from the CTQ, including this demonym. The Recreation, sports, culture, and community life committee then made the final recommendation to the Municipal Council. It should be noted that Chelsien is the only citizen proposal that received a community approval rating (strongly agree or agree) of over 50%.

This project is part of the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the Municipality of Chelsea and aims to strengthen local identity and pride for future generations.

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“What an honor to unveil this new demonym on our 150th anniversary! It embodies the pride, vitality, and unity of Chelsea, and I am confident that it will continue to bring us together and nurture our sense of belonging for years to come.” Pierre Guénard, Mayor of Chelsea

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