I’ve had a very busy start to the year and I have been out to meet a lot of residents to help them celebrate significant occasions – from golden wedding anniversaries to 100th birthdays and new citizen ceremonies.

Congratulations to you all.

I was delighted to host two important memorial services at Solidarity Plaza, both honouring different groups, but both truly highlighting the importance of inclusion and putting an end to division in our society.

In January, we marked 75 years since the liberation of the Nazi camp Auschwitz, and paid tribute to the millions of people who lost their lives to that regime during World War II.

Auschwitz, and many other camps like it, left societies fractured, broken and divided due to the spread of hatred.

And sadly, all these years later, we are still seeing and experiencing division today.

But we are working hard to create a diverse and equal West Dunbartonshire, using education to rid our communities of prejudice.

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In another stand for equality, we raised the rainbow flag high above Clydebank as we marked LGBT+ History Month.

We celebrated the diversity we see in our communities, and the steps we have taken as a country to ensure everyone, regardless of their gender, or sexual orientation, can feel safe and equal.

I’m sure you’ll all agree that some pretty significant progress has been made towards achieving that.

Rest assured, the hard work will continue and we will keep encouraging our communities to challenge any prejudice they come across.

It is vital that we stand together, not in spite of their differences, but because of them. It is these different life experiences that make our communities stronger.