Lac-Mégantic: A Trail of Shining Stars to Honor the…

Lac-Mégantic: A Walk of Shining Stars to Honor the Victims

Taking a Moment to Remember

On the night of Wednesday, hundreds of shining stars illuminated the downtown area of Lac-Mégantic as citizens took part in a silent walk to honor the 47 victims of the tragedy that occurred 10 years ago. At 1:14am on Thursday, the same time the train exploded in downtown Lac-Mégantic on July 6, 2013, Father Garrick Huang spoke on the steps of the Sainte-Agnès Church. He invited the approximately 200 Méganticois gathered there to silently walk through the downtown area. Former mayor Colette Roy-Laroche led the march, accompanied by her successor, Julie Morin, and Pierrette Turgeon Blanchet, a well-known figure in the community. Blanchet was one of the volunteers who welcomed grieving families at the church in the hours following the tragedy in 2013. At that time, Sainte-Agnès Church became a refuge for the families of the victims.

Messages of Hope and Solidarity

When they arrived at the epicenter of the 2013 tragedy, the three women took turns reading several messages engraved in the stones of the Espace Mémoire, a memorial built in honor of the 47 victims using rocks from the devastated downtown area. Messages such as “Having the courage to move forward” and “Life is born anew every day” can be read on the stones. Pierrette Turgeon Blanchet explained that these are messages of hope written by the citizens, representing the process of reconstruction and solidarity. As an ex-teacher, Blanchet wanted to pay tribute to several of her former students who lost their lives 10 years ago. Like most Méganticois who took part in the march, she wore a shining star on her jacket.

A Community Divided

One participant in the march, Geneviève Mayrand, recalled the tragic night, living only about 300 meters from the Musi-Café, where most of the victims perished after 1:14am on July 6, 2013. She fled her home when she saw the train on fire from her balcony. Alongside her friend Mélanie Marois and their teenage daughters, they walked to honor their “school friends and colleagues” who lost their lives. However, the two women disagree on the location of the railway bypass, mirroring the divided community’s opinions on the matter. Nevertheless, they both agreed on a message they wanted to convey to the numerous politicians participating in the commemorations in their city on Thursday. “We need better regulations for the transportation of dangerous materials,” said Mélanie Mayrand. “Improving safety is essential,” added her friend.

Moving Forward with action

The Prime Ministers Justin Trudeau and François Legault were expected to attend the Sainte-Agnès Church on Thursday morning. This tragic event has raised important questions about the transportation of dangerous goods and the safety regulations around it. It is clear that stronger measures and regulations need to be implemented to prevent another Lac-Mégantic from happening again. The government of Canada should take this opportunity to initiate meaningful discussions and make evidence-based policy changes to ensure the safety of all communities along the rail lines.

As the community reflects on this tragic event, it is crucial for political leaders and policymakers to listen to the concerns and needs of the residents of Lac-Mégantic and other communities affected by similar tragedies. By honoring the victims and supporting the community’s healing process, we can work towards preventing such disasters in the future.

Sources:

– Stéphane Blais, La Presse Canadienne, Actualités
– L’actualité