Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, Councillor Kurtis Dickson, was thrilled to announce Anna Magee, a P7 student at St Joseph’s Primary School, Lisburn, as the winner of his ‘Mayor for a Day’ competition.
Anna’s thoughtful and inspiring letter impressed the Mayor with its insight and compassion. She addressed key community issues including protecting Lough Neagh from pollution, embracing cultural diversity through an annual festival, and raising awareness about homelessness in Northern Ireland.
Her ideas reflected strong leadership qualities and a genuine care for others, making her the perfect choice to join the Mayor in his civic duties.
On Friday, 2 May, Anna stepped into the role of 'Mayor Magee' for a day packed with activity:
• 9.30am: Anna and her mother Kathy were collected from her school assembly, where she was congratulated in front of her classmates and teachers as Mayor Dickson officially announced Anna as ‘Mayor for the Day’.
• 10.00am: At Ballymacash Community Centre, Mayor Magee joined Mayor Dickson to officially open newly planted flower beds, created in collaboration with local community volunteers and young people. After cutting the ribbon, Mayor Magee enjoyed refreshments and chatted with elected members, residents, and volunteers about the importance of growing local and environmental sustainability.
• 11.00am: The group then visited the Pocket Forest at Ballymacash Sports Zone, where Laura Turner gave Mayor Magee a personal tour of the young woodland space, discussing its impact on biodiversity, carbon capture, and community wellbeing.
• 12.00pm: The next stop was the Grove Activity Centre, where Mayor Magee met Philip Reain-Adair from Live Life Well-Being Centre and Social Enterprises. She learned about the centre’s work in supporting health and wellbeing and viewed the ongoing developments.
• 12.45pm: Back at Lagan Valley Island, Mayor Magee visited the Mayor’s Parlour, where she received a goody bag to mark her day in office.
Reflecting on the day, Mayor Dickson said:
“Anna’s letter was full of passion, creativity, and care for her community. It was a joy to share my day with her. She showed curiosity, maturity, and real enthusiasm for making a difference. I have no doubt she has a bright future ahead.”
Mayor Dickson also extends his sincere thanks to all the schools who participated in the competition and commends every pupil who took the time to share their ideas for a better community.