The bar that became the epicentre of the deadly train disaster that struck Lac-Megantic, Que., 10 years ago marked the sombre anniversary on Friday (July 7) in much the same way it spent the hours leading up to the tragedy: with music, laughter and even joy.

Musical headliner Dany Flanders, a former contestant on singing reality show 害羞草研究所淟a Voix,害羞草研究所� began Friday害羞草研究所檚 tribute event at the Musi-Caf茅 with an emotional tribute to the victims and the town, set to the tune of Leonard Cohen害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所淗allelujah.害羞草研究所�

However, he promised the evening would not be all sombre, and it wasn害羞草研究所檛. Within a few songs, the waitresses were dancing and the crowd was singing along as Flanders took requests and sang a birthday song for a customer.

Ten years ago, on another hot summer night, the Musi-Caf茅 bar became the focal point of the tragedy that rocked the town after an unattended parked train carrying crude oil rolled down the slope from nearby Nantes and derailed, then exploded.

Some 30 of the 47 victims who died in the disaster were in or near the bar, whose name has since become a symbol of the town害羞草研究所檚 resilience, and its ongoing rebuild.

Co-owner Katie Stapels, who took over the bar last year with her partner, said she害羞草研究所檇 known the Musi-Caf茅 was important to the community 害羞草研究所� though she害羞草研究所檚 only realizing just how much. While she didn害羞草研究所檛 live in Lac-Megantic in 2013, she害羞草研究所檚 embraced the responsibility of owning the place that害羞草研究所檚 become one of its best-known symbols.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a lot of emotions, whether you lived through (the tragedy) or not,害羞草研究所� she said in an interview. 害羞草研究所淏ut it害羞草研究所檚 certain that in taking over the Musi-Caf茅, we have no choice but to live it.害羞草研究所�

Only weeks after the July 6, 2013, tragedy, the bar reopened in a tent, offering a series of free concerts to the population. A new permanent location opened at the end of 2014 害羞草研究所� though, like the rest of downtown, it bore little outward resemblance to what was there before.

In addition to immediately destroying half of the town centre, the derailment spilled six million litres of oil that seeped into the sewer system, contaminating many other buildings.

In total, about 80 buildings were demolished, encompassing 110 businesses and 100 homes, according to information by the city. The environmental damage was so significant that the downtown area didn害羞草研究所檛 reopen for nearly three years.

In the meantime, the decision was made to rebuild on a nearby street 害羞草研究所� a choice made 害羞草研究所渙ut of necessity害羞草研究所� to allow businesses to reopen quickly, according to St茅phane Vachon, the city害羞草研究所檚 director of economic development. Today, about 30 buildings have been built.

The former site of the Musi-Caf茅 is now a memorial that pays tribute to the victims.

Jerry Perron, a 74-year-old resident who attended Friday害羞草研究所檚 show, says he misses the old Musi-Caf茅, with its intimate corners. Mostly, he misses the location on bustling Frontenac street, with its early 1900s-era 害羞草研究所渂oomtown害羞草研究所�-style low-rise buildings and cheerful facades.

He said the new downtown is 害羞草研究所渃old害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所渓ifeless害羞草研究所� by comparison, with less activity, and grey and brown buildings replacing the colourful ones. The new Musi-Caf茅, like the new downtown, is more modern 害羞草研究所� bigger, with higher ceilings and in a stand-alone building rather than a strip.

However, he said the rebuilt Musi-Caf茅, while different, still serves as an important symbol of the tragedy and a place where people of different generations gather.

害羞草研究所淭here are young people, there are older people like me 害羞草研究所� it害羞草研究所檚 important,害羞草研究所� he said. Frontenac, the former main street, is now a mix of empty lots, green spaces and boxy modern buildings.

The downtown still features plaques bearing pictures and explanations of historic buildings that are no longer standing, while a newly built boardwalk runs alongside the tracks where trains still rumble by, providing a daily reminder of what happened.

Vachon acknowledges that not everyone is a fan of the new downtown, which is less centralized, with fewer buildings and a modern style. 害羞草研究所漈here害羞草研究所檚 no textbook on how to rebuild a downtown after a train explosion,害羞草研究所� Vachon said.

He said the new design was created in consultation with residents, and incorporates elements that were important to them, such as parks and wider sidewalks.

The decision to rebuild the Musi-Caf茅 was made early on, he said. 害羞草研究所淚t was kind of a symbol of a rebirth, or moving forward.害羞草研究所�

Stapels said she and her partner have made a few changes since taking over, including boosting the food offering. But she says the new bar still keeps the values of the original, including good music and providing a place for the community to gather. And, just as the Musi-Caf茅 supported residents in the wake of tragedy, she says they害羞草研究所檝e returned the favour in the lead-up to the anniversary.

害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檝e been coming to see us for several weeks, saying 害羞草研究所榃e害羞草研究所檙e coming to see you, to encourage you,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 she said.

Morgan Lowrie, The Canadian Press

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