Victoria County councillor originally from Mexico to be sworn in

Today's swearing-in ceremony for newly elected councillors in Cape Breton's Victoria County will be one to remember as it will include the county's first elected municipal representative to originally come fromMexico.

Perla MacLeod grew up in Mexico City and at 18,she took a job working in a bank in Veracruz. She then decided to move to Canada to learn English so that she could get a better job when she returned home.

MacLeod settled in Dartmouth and it was there she met the cousin of the man from whom she was renting an apartment.

"So I meet Craig, who is [now] my husband. I meet him there and my plan changed," she said.

The couple married and moved to Baddeck because that's where he's from.

Lessons learned at a coffee shop

The MacLeods now have three children under the age of 13.

She says she learned about local issues while working in a Baddeck coffee shop.

"You see people and they talk and they want to stay or their daughters or sons are coming for a visit and they have to go,"she said. "So, you see a lot of that. We need to help."

MacLeod says she decided to run for council to give back to the community that has welcomed her.

Her priority is making Victoria County a place that has opportunities for young people.

"We have a lot of things in our community we need, especially for our children. I think we can focus right now on the future generations here in the county. It will be a better place for the people," said MacLeod.

MacLeod will be the first woman on Victoria County council in 26 years.