City plans to rename Mississauga library in honour of Hazel McCallion’s 100th birthday

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Published October 29, 2020 at 3:08 pm

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Many establishments bear the name of Mississauga’s most iconic mayor, but none of those places belong to the city she helmed for 36 years–until now. 

At an Oct. 28 council meeting, Mississauga city councillors approved a motion to name the city’s Central Library–which is expected to be completely redeveloped–after former mayor Hazel McCallion in honour of her upcoming birthday.

McCallion, who served as mayor from 1978 until her retirement in 2014, will turn 100-years-old on Feb. 14, 2021 (which also just happens to be Hazel McCallion Day across Ontario). 

The library will be officially renamed the Hazel McCallion Central Library next year. 

The motion, put forward by Ward 6 Councillor Ron Starr, points out that McCallion actually served the people of Mississauga for 53 years. She held office as reeve and mayor of Streetsville prior to amalgamation and also served as a councillor before being elected mayor.

“McCallion has received and conferred many awards, as a Member of the Order of Canada, the Order of Ontario, the Queen’s Golden and Diamond Jubilee Medals, an Honourary Doctor of Laws from the University of Toronto, the Key to the City of Mississauga, and many other national and international awards and distinctions,” the motion reads. 

McCallion currently serves as the Chancellor of Sheridan College–the college’s Mississauga campus is named after her–and acts as an advisor to the government of Ontario on municipal matters.

The University of Toronto–Mississauga (UTM) campus also pays homage to the former mayor, as it’s home to the Hazel McCallion Academic Learning Centre. 

The motion also notes that McCallion has raised millions of dollars for Trillium Health Partners, Sheridan College and the University of Toronto, as well as for other causes through her Hazel McCallion Foundation. 

The motion says that McCallion presided over the development of a number of landmarks and institutions, including the Living Arts Centre, City Hall, and the Central Library. It also points out that she led the city through the 1979 train derailment and evacuation and acted as a torchbearer in the 2010 Olympic Torch relay.

“To date, the City of Mississauga has not yet honoured Hazel McCallion for her service to this city through the naming of a building or other piece of city infrastructure and other institutions including Sheridan College, the Peel District School Board, and Square One have already honoured Hazel McCallion with a naming,” the motion reads. 

“In honour of Hazel McCallion’s 100th birthday and her decades of service to Mississauga, the City of Mississauga will rename the current Central Library the Hazel McCallion Central Library.” 

Staff will bring back a report to council for the renaming and the new name will be unveiled on February 14, 2021.

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