Bar that became epicentre of Lac-Megantic tragedy now a symbol of its rebuild

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 in much the same way it spent the hours leading up to the tragedy: with music, laughter and even joy.

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 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 "La Voix," began Friday's tribute event at the Musi-Café with an emotional tribute to the victims and the town, set to the tune of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah."

However, he promised the evening would not be all sombre, and it wasn't.

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-Café 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's resilience, and its ongoing rebuild.

Co-owner Katie Stapels, who took over the bar last year with her partner, said she'd known the Musi-Café was important to the community -- though she's only realizing just how much.