AUGUSTA (AP) — Gov. Paul LePage will visit the small Quebec town just across the border where a runaway train killed dozens of people and leveled much of the downtown, his office said Wednesday.
LePage will attend a memorial Mass for the victims Saturday in Lac- Megantic. Before the ceremony, he will meet with Lac- Megantic Mayor Colette Roy-Laroche and other Canadian officials.
“While a line divides our countries, it does not divide our people, and it is important for Maine to support our northern neighbors during this time of need,” LePage said in a statement.
An unattended train carrying oil broke loose July 6 and hurtled down a sevenmile incline, derailing and igniting near the Lac- Megantic’s downtown, killing 47 people.
LePage’s office said that Maine-Canada Trade Ombudsman Daniel Deveau visited the town last week with a delegation from Franklin County to assess the town’s needs and provide support.
“For years, these two communities have forged relationships to share culture and economic growth,” Le- Page said. “And in difficult times like this, those bonds extend even farther. Recovery work remains, and I have pledged to the people of Lac-Megantic and the region our support.”
The Times Record Sustaining Sponsor
We believe a community must be informed to thrive. bowdoin.edu
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less