Hazel McCallion, who transformed Mississauga from a largely rural community into a bustling metropolis during a 36-year tenure as mayor, has died.
She was 101.
Premier Doug Ford made the announcement in a statement issued on behalf of McCallion’s family on Sunday morning, noting that the longtime mayor “passed away peacefully at her home in Mississauga early this morning.
“Hazel was the true definition of a public servant. She dedicated her long life to her community, including 36 years as mayor of Mississauga – the longest serving mayor in the city’s history. She led the transformation of Mississauga into one of Canada’s largest cities. Hazel’s mark on her community can be found in the many places and organizations that bear her name, including the Hazel McCallion Line,” he said. “I count myself incredibly lucky to have called Hazel my friend over these past many years. As I entered the world of politics, I was fortunate enough to learn from her wisdom and guidance, which she selflessly offered until the very end.”
Nicknamed by supporters as “Hurricane Hazel” due to her unique political style, she served 12 terms as the chief magistrate of Mississauga from 1978 to 2014.
She was born in Port Daniel, Que., on Feb. 14, 1921. Her family owned a fishing and canning company. McCallion attended business secretarial school in Quebec City and Montreal after high school.
Her first job was at the Louis Rolland Paper Company. She was later hired by the Canadian Kellogg company and transferred to Toronto.
In 1945, she met her husband Sam, and the couple married six years later. The McCallions then settled in Streetsville (before it became part of Mississauga), where Hazel’s political career began.
She served as the chairman of the Streetsville Planning Board before being elected as Streetsville’s mayor in 1970. Three years later, the town amalgamated with the Town of Mississauga and the Town of Port Credit to form the City of Mississauga. McCallion successfully ran for council.
In 1978, she was elected mayor, a position she would hold for 36 years. She would face the worst disaster in Mississauga’s history a year later when a Canadian Pacific freight train containing hazardous chemicals derailed, caught fire and exploded.
More than 200,000 residents had to flee their homes due to the incident. McCallion’s handling of the disaster, which resulted in no deaths, was praised.
Under her leadership, McCallion used lower taxes in Mississauga to attract businesses from Toronto to help the city grow. Mississauga is now the third-largest city in Ontario and the seventh-largest in Canada, with a population of 717,961.
Its population in 1978 when McCallion was first elected was 280,852
