Despite the grey clouds and drizzling rain, hundreds gather in front of their local recreational centre on July 10, calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to fast track a project to protect Lac-Mégantic. They want a new bypass for the railway tracks to ensure that the trains go around and not through the municipality.

They've joined a coalition of citizens for railroad safety and believe the proposed bypass could be a permanent solution to protect the town as it continues to rebuild.

But these aren't easy times for the people of Lac-Mégantic. Whether they're seeking more access to mental health services, financial compensation for economic losses, or finding those responsible for the tragedy – many residents say they feel left in the dark.

They also want to make sure what happened in 2013, doesn't happen again - to their town or to any other for that matter.

Members of the coalition consider what happened to them as a warning for the entire province. They believe everyone should be weary of all large fossil fuel projects. TransCanada Corp.'s proposed Energy East pipeline - now under federal review - is one of the ideas that they believe should never see the light of day.

Environmental toxicologist Daniel Green speaks to activists gathered in Lac-Mégantic on July 10, 2016.

“What will we do the next time six million litres or more of oil spills into another Quebec community? Lac-Mégantic will provide all the lessons for the future. It should be a national project to see what worked and didn’t work in Lac-Mégantic,” says Daniel Green, environmental toxicologist and the deputy leader of the Green Party of Canada, at the event.

Companies such as Alberta-based TransCanada have said that safety is a top priority for their employees and that they can pursue development, while creating jobs and protecting the environment.

Activists continue their march on the boardwalk alongside a railway track in Lac-Mégantic on July 10, 2016.

But Marilaine Savard, a resident of Lac-Mégantic and member of the coalition, says there’s only one way to prevent history from repeating itself. “We want renewable energy! We want a train bypass but the ultimate message is we want to leave fossil fuels in the ground," she yells into a microphone. The crowd cheers her on.

Savard leads the group toward a wooden pathway about two metres parallel to the train tracks, which was built to commemorate the 2013 tragedy. At the end of the boardwalk, residents place stuffed toys along the tracks. Savard says the gesture was meant to symbolize the two children who died and the 27 who became orphans because of the derailment.

After the event, residents slowly trickle into Musi-Café, a rebuilt version of a local bar where 30 victims died, three of which were employees – including Jo-Annie Lapointe.