(Lac-Mégantic) As Lac-Mégantic prepares to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the rail tragedy, social workers have been mandated to help merchants deal with visitors who sometimes lack judgment and ask awkward questions, or still take selfies with the train in the background.
Nearly two-thirds of the 47 victims who perished in the derailment of the Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway (MMA) train on the night of July 6, 2013, were inside the Musi-Café on Frontenac Street.
Since the recent broadcast of the television series Megantic And Lac-Mégantic: This is not an accidentthe popular resto-pub has experienced a new craze.
“People are calling and emailing us and saying, ‘we saw the great show and we want to come visit you,'” co-owner Katie Stapels told The Canadian Press.
While the vast majority of visitors are respectful, she says, others sometimes lack discernment.
“I have seen, on three occasions since February, people taking a “selfie” inside the cafe when the train passes behind. It’s a bit awkward, it’s not a tourist attraction” and “it’s uncomfortable for the employees who were there at the time, and for the local clientele”.
Some visitors also want to “check in” with certain characters in the series. Megantic and ask employees “did you know such a person?” “, explained Katie Stapels.
The characters in the eight-episode series are fictional, but inspired by people who exist or existed.
“No one comes here with bad intentions. We must welcome them without judgment, but sometimes it is difficult for those who have experienced the tragedy, ”added the co-owner of Musi-Café.
morbid questions
The lack of discernment of a minority of visitors can also manifest itself in the streets of the city centre.
“There are people who will ask the public works employees they meet on the street, ‘were there any corpses here?’ “Explained Mayor Julie Morin.
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRECHETTE, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Julie Morin, Mayor of Lac-Mégantic
“It can become heavy for citizens to bear, so we try to give ourselves the tools. »
The City therefore called on the “proximity team”, made up of public health workers.
These social workers have been mandated to meet the merchants and help them answer the impertinent, even disturbing, questions of certain visitors.
“We provide them with potential questions that tourists could ask, with ready-made answers,” summed up the mayor.
For example, when a visitor asks a shopkeeper if he knew a victim of the tragedy, and the latter does not want to discuss it, he is suggested to answer “that in Lac-Mégantic, all everyone knew a victim.
A sober commemoration
The City of Lac-Mégantic will mark the 10th anniversary of the tragedy in two weeks and the community wants the commemoration to be done in sobriety.
“It’s normal that people want to come to Lac-Mégantic, it’s really a story that touched everyone. We just want people to be kind,” said Mayor Morin.
Tourists who wish to learn more about the tragedy and the path traveled by the Méganticois since July 6, 2013 are invited to visit the exhibition at the heritage station or the Maison du temps, an interpretation site located in the center of city.
“There is a small house, near the derailment, which was installed […] for visitors. They can go inside and have a window on where the derailment was, because people are looking for it, tourists want to see where it is, but the citizens themselves, they don’t want to see it so we don’t cannot put a big red dot or a flag on which we write “it’s here”, because here, the daily life, it’s not the tragedy, “explained the mayor.
To mark the 10th anniversary of the tragic derailment, “a timeline”, which recalls important moments for the community, is installed on Frontenac Street.
The Sainte-Agnès church will open its doors for 24 hours from July 5 to 6; a memorial mass and concerts are planned.
At Musi-Café, co-owner Katie Stapels, who predicts a “very busy” summer, has nevertheless opted for a sober cultural program during the commemorations.
Several politicians and many media are expected during the few days when the sad anniversary will be highlighted.
The arrival of journalists is also part of the “red flags” that citizens have raised, said Julie Morin.
“You have to take the time to remember and to stop, […] but I think we just have to be careful with the notion of spectacle, because there is a community that lives here on a daily basis,” recalled Mayor Morin.