The work week begins in Lac-Megantic, a town struggling to find normalcy again

LAC-MEGANTIC, Que. – The work week has begun in a town struggling to regain its normal routine under circumstances that are anything but normal.

Lac-Megantic residents are slowly returning to their daily schedules more than a week after the tragedy that killed an estimated 50 people and wiped out the town centre.

Many shops and restaurants on the town’s main street are open again after a portion of the security perimeter was lifted late last week.

And the industrial park, located just east of the area where the train derailed, is bustling today.

But there’s still a heavy police presence in town and the fenced-off area serves as constant reminder of the tragedy that hit the town.

Authorities have recovered 35 bodies so far and are continuing to sift through the rubble today.

Steve Charrier, who owns a heavy-machinery repair shop, says he’s hoping this week will be a little easier after the shock of the week before.

“Last week, I’d say everything felt really heavy,” said Charrier, adding that several of his employees knew someone who died in the accident.

“We have to continue, we have to move forward somehow.”

One local businessman got a head start on that process.

Claude Charron runs a pharmacy in an area that’s still blocked off to residents; he started looking for a commercial space for rent the morning after the explosions.

His pharmacy opened at the new location a day later. A piece of plywood serves as the back wall in the cramped space, which is set to be expanded.

Nevertheless the store was bustling on Monday morning and Charron was greeted warmly by those picking up their prescriptions.

“I think I’ve never been hugged this often in all my life,” he said.

“It took me two-and-a-half hours to do the groceries because everyone was talking to me.

“It’s very sad for all the people that died but life goes on for all the patients.”

The tragedy prompted a moment of silence during a cabinet shuffle in Ottawa. Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his ministers paid that solemn tribute at Rideau Hall, before the new cabinet was sworn in.