Lac Megantic  | 7

Lac Megantic | 7

Author: Curiouscast February 11, 2021 Duration: 49:05
On this episode of the Global News What Happened To...? journalist Erica Vella revisits the 2013 Lac Megantic train derailment. In the early hours of July 6, 2013, a train carrying petroleum crude oil crashed into the centre of Lac Megantic, a small town in Quebec. The downtown core erupted in flames; 47 people perished, 2,000 people were evacuated from their homes. The tragedy marks one of the worst rail disasters in Canadian history. The incident happened at 1:15 a.m. July 6, 2013, when a runaway train with 72 oil tankers — owned and operated by the now-bankrupt railway company Montreal Maine and Atlantic Railway Ltd. (MMA) — barreled into the town at over 100 km/h. Along with the 47 deaths, much of the town was also destroyed. The Transportation Safety Board launched an investigation into the derailment and found 18 factors led to the Lac-Megantic disaster, including poor training, mechanical problems and sloppy safety oversight, a Transportation Safety Board (TSB) investigation concluded. Three men, Tom Harding, Richard Labrie and Jean Demaitre, were charged following the derailment, but in 2018 a jury had found the men not guilty. On this episode of Global News What Happened To...?, Erica Vella visits the town of Lac Megantic to speak with people who witnessed the tragedy over seven years ago. She describes what the town looks like know and finds out if any changes were made to ensure a derailment like this never happens again. Contact: Twitter: @ericavella Email: erica.vella@globalnews.ca If you enjoy Global News What Happened To...?, please take a minute to rate it on Apple Podcasts or Google Podcasts, tell us what you think and share the show with your friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Remember that major news story that dominated the headlines for weeks, then suddenly vanished from the public eye? Global News What Happened To...? picks up the narrative right where the rolling news coverage stopped. Hosted by Global News reporter Erica Vella, this podcast digs into the lasting consequences and unexpected outcomes of events we all thought we understood. It’s not just a recap of the past; it’s a deep, thoughtful look at how those pivotal moments continue to shape our world long after the media spotlight has moved on. Each episode focuses on a single question, revisiting stories like the Fukushima nuclear disaster, the dramatic rescue of the Chilean miners, or the viral frenzy of the Ice Bucket Challenge to uncover what followed. Vella guides listeners through meticulous research and fresh reporting, often speaking directly with the people whose lives were forever changed. You’ll hear updates on recovery efforts, learn about ongoing legal battles, and discover whether those well-intentioned global movements actually led to lasting change. Produced by Curiouscast, this series sits at a fascinating crossroads between history, culture, and current affairs, offering a necessary perspective in our fast-paced news cycle. Tune in for a compelling blend of investigative journalism and human storytelling that provides satisfying, and sometimes surprising, answers to the questions we’re still asking.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 55

Global News What Happened To...?
Podcast Episodes
#BringBackOurGirls - Part 1  | 14 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:18
In April 2014, Grace Danladi Saleh had moved to her husband’s hometown of Chibok, Nigeria. He husband, Idrisa Danladi Saleh, was the town’s doctor and cared for the community. On April 14, 2014, Grace said she heard loud…
Quebec City Mosque Shooting  | 13 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:16
Aymen Derbali knew he would be late for evening prayers, but he decided to go anyway. He left his home in Sainte Foy, Que., on Jan. 29, 2017. When he arrived at the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec City, he took a spot…
The Flint Water Crisis  | 12 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:37
The Flint Michigan water crisis garnered international attention in 2015 after it was discovered that residents were being poisoned by the water running through their taps. A year earlier in 2014, the city switched its w…
The Zika Epidemic | 11 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:44
Brazil was among one of the countries most affected by the Zika virus in 2015 and 2016 but Dr. Carlos Pardo, a professor at Johns Hopkins University, said the virus emerged in the 1950s. Zika virus is an arbovirus — a ty…
Haiti Earthquake | 10 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:51
Eleven years ago, Haiti was rocked by a seven-magnitude earthquake that killed, injured and displaced hundreds of thousands of people. Franciscot Auguste was living in the country at the time with his mother and four oth…
Australian Bushfires | 6 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:39
Following years of drought, Australia was ravaged by sweeping bushfires that began in 2019; 33 people were killed and thousands of others were displaced. Bushfires are an annual threat during Australia’s dry summers, but…
Pulse Nightclub  | 5 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:58
Brandon Wolf recalls the hours leading up to June 12, 2016 vividly. He said he made plans to go out with his friends Christopher Andrew (Drew) Leinonen and Juan Ramon Guerrero. They decided to go to Pulse, a gay nightclu…
SARS | 4 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:37
On this episode of Global News What Happened To...?, journalist Erica Vella revisits the SARS epidemic that gripped parts of Canada in 2003. This year has been an unprecedented year as the world battles the COVID-19 pand…