It’s Official: There is Now a Hazel McCallion Day in Mississauga (and Beyond)
Published December 8, 2016 at 8:23 pm
It’s official.
Valentine’s Day is officially Hazel McCallion Day in Ontario.
The private member’s bill put forward by Amrit Mangat, MPP for Mississauga-Brampton South was enacted into law in Ontario today (Dec. 8) through a unanimous vote.
Earlier this year, Mangat introduced a private member’s bill to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario that “seeks to recognize Hazel McCallion’s contributions, encourage young women to enter political life.”
Bill 215 asked that February 14 (McCallion’s birthday) be proclaimed Hazel McCallion Day in Ontario.
The bill is relatively short, sweet and to the point. It calls attention to the fact that McCallion served an impressive and historic 36 years in office (she was reelected decisively until her retirement in 2014). The bill also mentions that McCallion, “oversaw the incredible growth and urban transformation of Mississauga from a city of 280, 850 residents in 1978 to Canada’s sixth largest city in 2011.”
Videos
The bill also mentions that her mayoralty spanned an incredible number of years (it most certainly did) and that she received “numerous awards and honours for her lifetime of contributions to her community.”
Bill 215 also emphasizes the importance of McCallion’s tenure in regards to its positive impact on female involvement in politics.
“Though women had been elected mayor of other Canadian cities previous to McCallion, political life was nonetheless widely regarded during the 1960s – when she entered politics – to be a man’s domain. Her participation in public life since that time makes her a brilliant example to women and, indeed, all Ontarians,” the bill reads.
Well, now it’s official–February 14 is both a day of love and Hazel.
What are you going to do to celebrate, Mississauga?
