Oshawa Mayor remembers Hazel McCallion for her “passionate leadership” and wisdom

Wisdom and “passionate leadership” are the first things that came to mind for Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter in talking about the life and legacy of former Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion, who died Sunday at the age of 101.

“Hazel’s wisdom and her decades of service and leadership was an inspiration to so many, including myself. She touched the lives of countless people in her community and beyond. Hazel’s legacy will live on forever for the people of Mississauga,” Carter said. “As Mississauga’s longest-serving Mayor, Hazel served her community with passionate leadership. As mayor for 36 years, she led the transformation of Mississauga from a rural township into a thriving urban centre which today is one of Canada’s largest cities.”

Hazel McCallion was first elected as Mayor of Mississauga in 1978 and served as Mayor for 12 terms until 2014. Hazel was appointed as Sheridan College’s first chancellor and also as a special advisor to the Mississauga campus of the University of Toronto. She also served as the Chair of the World Health Organization’s Symposiums on Healthy Cities. Hazel received numerous honours, including being appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 2005.

McCallion was just two weeks from her 102nd birthday when she died.