‘Hurricane’ Hazel McCallion, former mayor of Mississauga, has died at the age of 101.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced her death on Sunday morning, calling her a “true definition of a public servant.”
“I think her legacy will definitely stay in Mississauga. We have city hall, celebration square and these things will live on forever,” said resident Don Khniuk who was at Mississauga City Hall on Monday.
McCallion served as Mississauga’s mayor for 36 years, from 1978 to 2014, and was a fierce politician who leaves behind a legacy unlike any other.
The politician was nicknamed “Hurricane Hazel” for her outspoken style. She won 12 municipal elections, leaving her opponents with little chance of victory.
After she became mayor, she led the city through some of its worst events, including the 1979 Mississauga CP train derailment.
Despite spraining her ankle early in the crisis, McCallion hobbled to press conferences, provided briefings and led the evacuation of 220,000 residents after the derailment of a train loaded with toxic chemicals.
“The first time I heard of Hazel was the train derailment,” Khniuk said.
“I could see from the TV pictures just how serious and dangerous the situation was, and the person in charge of safety was Hazel McCallion.”
This was one of Canada’s largest emergency relocations. She was the subject of international news coverage for her military-like efficiency and decisiveness.
The city’s efforts and peaceful evacuation of its residents were lauded for not causing any injuries or losses.
Over her time in office, Mississauga moved from a collection of towns and villages to become Canada’s seventh-largest city.
Following her departure from the Mayor’s office, she was associated with the University of Toronto Mississauga, Sheridan College, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association, the Ontario Government, and Revera Incorporated.
McCallion will not only be remembered for her time in office but for how she connected with people.
“One time I had a lot of running back and forth to do at the office, I was going through a separation at the time and Hazel was able to help me with that,” resident Dora Singh said.
“I will never be able to forget her.”
Hazel Journeaux was born in Port Daniel, Quebec, on Feb. 14, 1921. She grew up on a farm as the youngest of five children.
She was a mother of three and was married to Sam McCallion who died in 1997.
Two of her children, Linda Burgess and Peter McCallion, told CP24 on Sunday that they want her to be remembered as the person she was throughout her decades-long career as a public servant.
Books of Condolences will be available for public signing starting on Monday, Jan. 30 at 10 a.m. Public signing will be available at Mississauga City Hall and the following community centres:
- Churchill Meadows Community Centre
- Clarkson Community Centre
- Erin Meadows Community Centre
- Frank McKechnie Community Centre
- Huron Park Recreation Centre
- Malton Community Centre
- Mississauga Senior’s Centre
- Meadowvale Community Centre
- Mississauga Valley Community Centre
- River Grove Community Centre
- South Common Community Centre.
The books will be in place until the evening of the private funeral.