Sinn Fein Councillor Elisha McCallion was last night elected the first mayor of the newly-formed Derry City and Strabane District Council.
The following is her acceptance speech which she delivered following her election at the "Super Council's" historic first annual general meeting held in Derry's Guildhall.
"I would like to welcome everyone here tonight from across Derry and Strabane, my family and friends, party activists and supporters, community groups, schools and all the many guests who have joined us here tonight for this historic occasion.
"Let me say how much of an honour it is to be here tonight and to be chosen by my party colleagues to serve as mayor.
"To be selected by your colleagues to hold the position of mayor at any time is a huge honour, but particularly so at this time when we are entering into an exciting new phase in local government.
"I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to the outgoing mayor and deputy mayor of Derry and the Chair and vice Chair of Strabane District Council for the service they have given over the last year and for their part in the transition to the new council arrangements. I would also like to take this opportunity to commend my party colleague Maoliosa McHugh who chaired proceeding for the past year I also pay tribute and commend everyone who has worked tirelessly to get us to where we are tonight and thank them for all their efforts.
"The coming together of Derry and Strabane marks a major shift in local government right across the north west.
"While this has not been without its challenges, it also presents huge opportunities for all the people of Derry and Strabane.
"This is truly a new era for local government in Derry, Strabane and the wider north west.
"I want to be a new mayor for a new era, creating a fresh environment for all of the people in the north west.
"I will be a mayor for everyone, providing civic leadership to all as we come together to form a new community across the north west stretching from Aghyaran to Culmore. I will seek to promote partnership-working, respect, inclusive politics and equality. While the geography may be different, there is one thing that is constant right across the new council area – its people.
"People are our greatest asset and as mayor, I will work daily to promote and create new opportunities for everyone right across the region.
"The North West suffers decades of underinvestment. This council with a strategic vision going forward will lead positive change for this region and its people.
"Improving the physical and emotional health of the north west is crucially important but it must go hand in hand with economic regeneration and job creation. I am committed to driving the new council’s job creation unit to ensure the city and region can improve its economic fortunes in line with the One Plan so that our young people can have the opportunity to live and work at home.
"This will require new thinking and new relationships with bodies outside the north west. I am encouraged by the deputy First Minister’s initiative in establishing the Executive’s North West ministerial subgroup, which will help address the historic underinvestment in this region. As mayor I will be providing any support necessary to this subgroup to discuss its progress, particularly around the expansion of the university at Magee.
"The expansion of Magee is absolutely vital to the regeneration of not just this city but the entire North West region – Derry Strabane and Donegal. That is something all of us can agree on and I would encourage everyone with the best interests of the North West at heart to work together with a unity of purpose to make that happen.
"During my time as mayor I will be working hard to attract investment to this city and meet with trade delegations and potential investors and rest assured I will do everything I can to showcase this city and region at its best.
"Creating and bringing jobs to Derry and Strabane will change the lives of young people so our focus has to be in the delivery of a vibrant economy. To this end the new Council has adopted the policy of ensuring that all our employees are guranteed at least the living wage.
"I want my term as mayor to have a particular focus on creating opportunities for young people throughout the region.
"This is a region with a growing young population and most of them are shining examples of everything that is great about the north west.
"In recent years, with the tremendous opportunities the City of Culture celebrations and its legacy brought to the city, the talents of our young people have been showcased to the wider world and many have grasped these opportunities and excelled.
"There are other young people who have not reached their potential. They contend with unemployment; educational worries, housing issues, childcare concerns, issues arising from social and economic deprivation.
"These young people need our support and encouragement.
"They have to avail of and benefit from the first class opportunities that our education sector provides.
"I see my role as mayor, working in partnership with others, to help young people break down the barriers which prevent them from realising their potential.
"The effects of drug and alcohol addictions is one of the biggest challenges facing us all today.
"Determined efforts are continuing right across the north west to tackle these issues, and the addiction taskforce, which I have been a member of, plays a key role in identifying and tackling these problems.
"As mayor, I want to lead these efforts to support all our young people and ensure that the existing services are well resourced and that no one is left without provision.
"I also want to see more young people getting involved in the civic life of our city and region. To that end, one of my mayoral initiatives will be to invite all school councils to attend a council meeting to introduce them to practical government at a local level.
"As a young mother I know how difficult it can be at times to play a full part in the civic life of our city when dealing with the pressures of childcare. Luckily I am in the fortunate position where I have excellent family support – which I will most likely put to the test over the coming months – but I am aware that many other young mothers and families out there struggle.
"I would like the council to be child friendly so everyone can play a full part in its activities of our council. This will mean finding ways to provide crèche and childcare facilities for council events to ensure as many people as possible can take part.
"In my year as mayor I want to see more people involved in healthy activities right across the north west.
"Few can have failed to notice the increased numbers of people walking, jogging and cycling. Many of us have taken part in boot camp training sessions to boost or in some cases, kick-start new fitness regimes.
"I want to celebrate this drive for a healthier north west and will do everything I can as mayor to support such activities by giving as many people as possible the opportunity to take part during ‘boot camp week’ across the council area.
"We all know the tremendous value of sport across the north west and people far and wide know of this region because of the success of our sporting stars across many disciplines. In investing in our sporting and leisure facilities we can provide for a new generation of sporting icons in the future.
"New council arrangements will require new relationships. New relationships to build on the historical connections between Derry and Strabane, and new relationships between our communities.
"We have led the way in this city in demonstrating what can be achieved through new relationships. Derry, once a byword for discrimination is now recognised and celebrated internationally as a centre of respect and tolerance. Strabane Council has shown how people working together ensures everyone is treated with respect.
"Every day, through creativity and innovation in a wide range of events, those relationships deepen and grow.
"I want to be a beacon for those new relationships and between our communities, old and new. And I will celebrate the diversity of our unique culture, working to unite our communities based on respect and equaity.
"With two important centenaries approaching in 2016 - The Easter Rising and The Battle of the Somme, I will explore how the Office of the Mayor can mark these in a respectful and meaningful way.
"The council will be the regional hub of the north west, I want to explore opportunities to build relationships across the island. I will be inviting every mayor in Ireland to visit us here in Derry and Strabane to showcase what this region has to offer economically and culturally.
"The profile of our new council area is changing dramatically with a large rural population. In the past, rural communities have suffered from neglect and lack of investment. We are committed to tackling rural isolation and ensure that our rural community prosper in this new era of local Government
"Key to strengthening relationships between Derry and Strabane, is the need to see new physical infastructural links, particularly the A5. This is a priority issue for our new Council, it remains a PFG commitment.
"The A5 and the A6 will ensure that new jobs come to the North West and existing business will continue to grow across the entire council district
"Our commitment to charities both at home and abroad is known across the world. To continue in that vein I have chosen a charity which is very close to my heart, the local branch of the Alzheimer’s Society, with its branches in both Derry and Strabane, which helps people battling against dementia and their families across the north west.
"Many families, including my own, have felt the impact of dementia at first hand. My own grandmother, Betty Anderson, an inspirational figure to me and many in my wider family circle, has been dealing with Alzheimer’s and I have watched as my mother and her sisters look after my granny with such care and dedication.
"This will not only raise much needed funds but also raise awareness of the important work this charity carries out every day.
"Finally, I would like to thank my own family for the excellent support they have given me to allow me to carry out my responsibilities as a public representative. I know that will continue over the course of the next year and I thank them in advance for their unstinting support.
"As we move forward together into this new era of challenge and opportunity – we do so with confidence in our ability to deliver the hopes and aspirations of those who have entrusted us to be their public representatives.
"In my year as mayor I am ready for this challenge."
If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Derry Now editorial team on 028 7129 6600 for Derry City stories Or 028 7774 3970 for County Derry stories. Or you can email gareth@derrynews.net at any time.
