Soraya Martinez Ferrada officially sworn in as mayor of Montreal

Soraya Martinez Ferrada was sworn in as the mayor of Montreal on Thursday. She is the first refugee to hold the position of mayor of the metropolis, and Montreal’s first Latina mayor.

Martinez Ferrada was sworn in by the City of Montreal’s Clerk and Returning Officer, Emmanuel Tani-Moore, along with the elected members of City Council, in front of around 300 people, marking the beginning of a four-year term.

“For the first time in its history, Montreal has elected a candidate of diversity to lead Quebec’s largest metropolis. … It’s a powerful message in a city where each child — whatever their language, history — can say, ‘here, I’m home’,” said Martinez Ferrada in her victory speech on Nov. 2.

Her family was by her side as she took the oath of office and signed the official documents with the city pen, and then gave her first speech as Mayor of Montreal.

“Once elected, Montreal doesn’t belong to a party; it belongs to us all, and I will be the mayor of all Montrealers – all boroughs, all communities, and of all generations,” said an emotional Martinez Ferrada.

“The challenges in front of us are big, huge. Homelessness, housing, security, cleanliness, mobility, the vitality of the downtown core, the ecological transition, and public finances. I promise to be an accessible, committed, and attentive mayor, listening to you, so that Montreal can be ambitious, so that Montreal can be proud, so that Montreal can be inclusive, so that Montreal can thrive, and so that all citizens can actively participate.”

“So let me say a few words in English. To my English community, a community which built this city, contributed to the history of Montreal, and I want you to know that you can count on me. You know, et vous le savez, c’est la ville francophone d’Amérique du Nord, la plus grande métropole francophone, qui a une communauté anglophone importante avec laquelle nous aurons à travailler et à valoriser et aussi si vous êtes des villes.”

Born in Chile, Martinez Ferrada arrived in Quebec as a political refugee at the age of eight after her family fled the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. The trilingual mayor grew up in Montreal’s East End and calls herself  “a daughter of Bill 101″ — the language legislation that required immigrant children to go to school in French.

“If you will permit me some words in Spanish. Not only can I speak Spanish, I am Chilean. I would like to greet the Latin American community. Not only my community, but all communities that are invited to participate and take an active role in this city,” said Martinez Ferrada.

“It is with a profound sense of responsibility and pride that I begin this mandate serving all Montrealers. I have listened to you; now is the time to act. Together, we will build a fair, efficient, and ambitious metropolis to which Montrealers are entitled,” said Martinez Ferrada.

The leader of Ensemble Montréal was elected with 43 per cent of the vote. Her party’s victory signals a change in government for the metropolis after eight years under the Projet Montréal administration.

Martinez Ferrada has said her top priorities include tackling the issue of homelessness.

She is Montreal’s 47th mayor and only the second woman – after Valérie Plante – to hold the job.

“Valérie, I want to thank you, for your engagement. I want to thank you because you broke a very big glass ceiling for this city, for women,” Martinez Ferrada said during her victory speech on Nov. 2.

Plante, the longtime leader of Projet Montréal, did not seek a third term in office, citing the strenuous demands of public service.

In her speech at city hall, Martinez Ferrada also congratulated Projet Montréal’s new leader, Ericka Alneus, saying she looks forward to working with her. “For the first time, you have two women from diverse backgrounds who will be at the head of two parties at city hall, so congratulations, Ericka,” Martinez Ferrada said.

Martinez Ferrada, a 53-year-old career politician, stepped down as a former federal Liberal MP and cabinet minister to make a move back to municipal politics earlier this year.

Official results from the returning officer indicate that 55 women and 48 men were elected for City Council, 19 borough councils, and at Montreal City Hall, marking the first time that more women will be in office.

Despite this, the official proclamation of elected officials will take place at a later date, due to recounts taking place at the Court of Quebec.