Lac-Megantic took a step toward healing Saturday as thousands of mourners attended a solemn memorial to honour the victims of the July 6 train tragedy.
Volunteers, mourners and dignitaries -- including Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Gov. Gen David Johnston and Quebec Premier Pauline Marois -- packed Ste.-Agnes Church as residents filled the streets outside to watch the memorial from two giant screens.
During the emotional service, Father Steve Lemay described Lac-Megantic as 鈥渁 place of life.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 unbearable,鈥� he said. 鈥淣o one, no one here, or elsewhere, can bring back the dead and give them back to their loved ones.鈥�
Many outside the church wiped away tears as the names of the individuals who died in the derailment were read from a card created by a local artist, which sat on display inside the church among flowers and photos of victims.
Sophie L鈥橦eureux was one of thousands who gathered outside the church to watch the memorial.
As the manager of Musi-Café bar, L鈥橦eureux told The Canadian Press she lost many friends and co-workers in the disaster.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an important step in the mourning process,鈥� she said.
鈥淭he whole population of Lac-Megantic is still really in a state of shock, even after three weeks. It will stay engraved on our hearts and on our memories for a long time."
Residents like Rene Boulanger hoped the memorial marked a day of rebirth and transition for the devastated community.
鈥淚t鈥檚 like we鈥檙e taking a giant step forward,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e can now start talking about rebuilding.鈥�
Many say one necessary part of rebuilding is moving the rail lines that were at the centre of the tragedy; hundreds have signed a petition demanding trains be diverted away from the town.
鈥淲hether we are listened to 鈥� I don鈥檛 know,鈥� Annette Bilaudeaux said in an interview with 麻豆传媒. 鈥淏ut we鈥檝e already lost too much.鈥�
But for most, Saturday was a time to pause and honour those who perished.
Judith Boucher, who lost four family members in the inferno, found a spot outside the church to light candles in their memories.
鈥淚t breaks my heart,鈥� a tearful Boucher said. 鈥淚 never got to say goodbye.鈥�
Thousands outside the church greeted dignitaries with applause as they entered the church ahead of the memorial Saturday. But the loudest applause was saved for a group of uniformed firefighters.
Harper and his wife attended the mass in what was his second visit to Lac-Megantic since the derailment. During his first visit he described the downtown core as a war zone.
After the mass, Harper said it had been an emotional day. "It is still very difficult to fully absorb this when you see all of these families who have been so terribly affected,鈥� he told reporters.
Saturday鈥檚 memorial came three weeks after a runaway train carrying crude oil jumped the tracks in the small town, setting off a series of explosions that killed an estimated 47 people and destroyed the downtown core. Search efforts were suspended during the mass to give everyone involved an opportunity to attend. Forty-two bodies have been recovered since the derailment, and five others remain missing.
With a report from CTV鈥檚 Peter Akman
