Late Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion is being remembered for the many ways she contributed to not only to the city she led for 36 years, but also the province and country following her death on Sunday morning.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his âdear friendâ was âan extraordinary woman who wore many hats: a businessperson, an athlete, a politician, and one of Canada's â and the worldâs â longest-serving mayors. Nicknamed âHurricane Hazelâ for her bold political style, she was unstoppable,â he said in a written statement.
ââI want to assure you that the people will come first during my termâ she told a cheering crowd when she won her first term as mayor almost 45 years ago. And that was how she served: by putting people first,â said Trudeau, who offered condolences to McCallionâs family, friends and the people of Mississauga on behalf of all Canadians.
âShe inspired countless others, including myself, in her decades of tireless and selfless service. I will miss her as a friend, and Iâll always cherish the conversations we had, and the wisdom she shared over the years.â
Trudeau said Mississauga, under McCallionâs guidance as mayor from 1978 to 2014, was transformed from a bedroom community into Canadaâs sixth largest city.
âWe will remember her as a trailblazer whose career in politics and service to her community will remain an inspiration to all of us. But mostly, we will remember her as a dear friend.â
In a statement, Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie called âMississaugaâs matriarchâ a âfierce and passionate leader who touched the lives of many and who served as an inspiration to women in politics across the country.â
âHazel lived a good life and the truth is that even in her final days, she never stopped giving back to this great city and to the people who proudly call it home,â she said, adding that McCallion "helped grow and shape Mississauga from farmland and fruit trees into the seventh-largest city in Canada."
Crombie who succeeded McCallion as mayor in 2014 following a 36-year reign, said that the longtime mayor was a strong-willed and determined individual who âalways fought for the best interests of Mississauga whether it was at the Council table, Queenâs Park or on Parliament Hill.â
âHurricane Hazel inspired countless women to speak out and have their voices heard, to take the leap into politics and demand a seat at the decision-making table,â she said. âEverything she did was for the betterment of our city and to ensure that even long after her time, Mississauga thrives. Even in her final years, Hazel never stopped moving. Iâll miss the time we spent together on evenings and weekends, whether that was cutting ribbons for new businesses, raising funds for charity, walking in parades or speaking at festivals.
âShe was the driving force behind my decision to put my name on the ballot to succeed her as Mayor of this great city. I wouldnât be the leader I am today if it wasnât for her support and sage advice.â
Crombie urged all Mississauga residents to âtake a moment today to reflect and thank Hazel for her life of service and contributions to our city.â
âHer legacy and spirit will live on in Mississauga for generations to come,â she said.
Books of condolence for Hazel McCallion will be available to sign in the Great Hall at Mississauga City Hall and at 11 community centres throughout the city starting on Monday at 10 a.m. More details can be found online.
Today, we grieve the loss of Mississaugaâs matriarch, Hazel McCallion, a fierce and passionate leader who touched the lives of so many. She lived a life of service before self - everything she did was for the betterment of our City. My deepest condolences to the McCallion family. pic.twitter.com/ttjbuucjWG
â Bonnie Crombie (@BonnieCrombie) January 29, 2023
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said McCallion wasnât just the mayor of Mississauga.
âShe was Canadaâs Mayor,â he tweeted.
â(McCallion) was the epitome of hard work & wisdom. I was lucky to consider her a friend & mentor for many years.â
Offering condolences to the McCallion family on behalf of the City of Brampton, Brown said flags would be lowered in his city. People can also share their memories and condolences online or sign a book of condolences at Brampton City Hall.
Hazel McCallion wasnât just the Mayor of Mississauga. She was Canadaâs Mayor. She was the epitome of hard work & wisdom. I was lucky to consider her a friend & mentor for many years. The @CityBrampton, extends condolences to the McCallion family & will be lowering our flags today pic.twitter.com/4L6iBICJFV
â Patrick Brown (@patrickbrownont) January 29, 2023
Toronto Mayor John Tory said McCallion was Mississaugaâs âiconic mayorâ who âbuilt that city from 1978 to 2014.â
âTo me, she was also a friend and a mentor. I spoke with her often and had the great privilege of meeting with her twice in the past two weeks, most recently on Tuesday when she was as engaged as ever despite her illness,â he said in a statement.
Tory said McCallion served her city with âstrength and incredible energy,â even in her retirement.
âHer commitment to local government was absolute. As Mississaugaâs longest-serving Mayor, she didnât hesitate to work with the federal and provincial governments to get things done for her city but she also spoke truth to power and held those same governments to account whenever she had to. You always knew where you stood with Hazel,â he said, offering condolences on behalf of the City of Toronto to McCallionâs family, friends, loved ones, colleagues, and the people of Mississauga.
âI feel so fortunate to have known Hazel for decades and to have been able to call her a friend. Iâm thankful for her kindness, her skill, her quick wit and her bluntness,â Tory said.
âHazel, we love you and we already miss you. May you now rest in peace after a long life that was so well-lived."
On behalf of all Toronto residents, I want to express my condolences to the entire McCallion family, all of her friends, loved ones, and countless colleagues, and to the people of Mississauga who supported her through 12 municipal elections.
â John Tory (@JohnTory) January 29, 2023
Former Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne reflected on her time working with McCallion, primarily recalling her âno nonsenseâ approach to politics.
âShe just wanted to get things done,â Wynne told CP24 on Sunday morning.
âShe was a dynamo. She came into her room, and her size didn't matter because she had a huge voice and a big presence.â
âDo your homeworkâ and âHave a planâ! Advice for life and politics from a great woman. Hazel was one of a kind and she gave so much of herself to all of us. Love to all her family and friends at this sad time. #HazelMcCallion https://t.co/VwpUlDSCdB
â Kathleen Wynne (@Kathleen_Wynne) January 29, 2023
Ontario Green Party leader Mike Shreiner and Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles also took to social media to reflect on McCallionâs life and contributions.
Iâm sorry to learn of the passing of Hazel McCallion. Through her many years of public service, Hazel McCallion left an indelible mark on her city and her province. May she rest in peace.
â Mike Schreiner (@MikeSchreiner) January 29, 2023
Hazel McCallion has left an indelible mark on Ontario through her dedicated public service. Her legacy will forever be felt in the city she helped shape, Mississauga, and by all Ontarians inspired by her tenacious spirit.
â Marit Stiles (@maritstiles) January 29, 2023
My condolences to her family and loved ones.
Paramount Fine Foods Founder, Mohamad Fakih, said McCallion made him the person who he is today.
âWhen she used to support me when I had four tables at Paramount, I felt I had the whole of Canada behind me,â he told CP24 on Sunday morning.
âI was scared when I was starting a business. She used to tell me, âKid, you're gonna be something, something important. And I used to say, âBut how do you say that? I barely can make ends meet and pay my bills at the end of the month.â And she said, âI don't care, you're just gonna be something and do great things for people.'â
We have lost a Great Canadian. Everybody knew Hazel. Called Hurricane Hazel for good reason! She never stopped. She was tough. She knew what she wanted to get done and always found a way to do it. Friend and mentor who I'll miss forever. RIP pic.twitter.com/bNExQNP9lz
â Mohamad Fakih, C.M. (@mohamadfakih8) January 29, 2023
McCallion family spokesperson Jim Murray spoke with CP24 Sunday morning about the âforce of natureâ his loved one was in Mississauga and across Ontario and Canada.
Murray said many people have been reaching out to McCallion over the last three weeks since her health began to decline to try to visit with her.
âIt's been an unbelievable outpouring of love, caring, and appreciation for the woman who was really the architect of the building of (Mississauga),â he said, calling McCallionâs work and budgetary ethics ârefreshing.â
He said her tireless effort ensured that Mississauga residents could go to bed at night knowing they had a leader who took care of them and their money.
âAnd it is in great measure a respected municipality because of the groundwork that she had laid and the undying commitment to keeping this as a quality place to live work, play,â Murray said.
Serving as Mississaugaâs longest-serving mayor was a role McCallion put before everything else up, he added.
âThe McCallion family are very proud of their mother and of what she did for her entire lifetime and they will enjoy the accolades that come because they know she was deserving. They donated their mother to this city for pretty well most of their life and now that is likely going to send a huge message of thank you to them.â
Funeral plans for McCallion have yet to be announced.