January 29, 2023, Mississauga: Long before women were welcome in Canadian politics, Hazel McCallion shoved her way onto the national stage as one of Canada’s most popular mayors, feared and revered by leaders at every level. Over almost a half-century in politics, McCallion transformed Mississauga from a collection of sleepy rural townships into one of Canada’s most populous cities, a sprawling magnet for national and international businesses.
In 1979, as a rookie Mississauga mayor, she was thrust into the spotlight, leading the evacuation of 220,000 residents after the derailment of a train laden with toxic chemicals. International news coverage focused on McCallion’s military-like efficiency and decisive actions in the face of one of the nation’s largest emergency relocations.
McCallion became known as “Hurricane Hazel” — a shrewd and iron-willed politician with a blustery style, common touch and boundless energy.
The woman who for so long seemed unstoppable died early Sunday at age 101 of pancreatic cancer, said Jim Murray, a longtime friend speaking on behalf of her family.
McCallion had been diagnosed just after the New Year and knew her illness was terminal, Murray said. “Jim. I’m 101 years old,” he recalled her saying. “I’ll be 102 if I make it to February 14th. I’ve done way more in my life than I ever thought I would do. None of us get out of this alive. I’m fine.”
McCallion died at home Sunday morning with her son Peter at her side, accompanied by friend and the head of the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association Fran Rider, and her German Shepherd, Sauga.
There will be a private family funeral, and a public memorial is being planned, with more information to come, Murray said.
Speaking in McCallion’s memory Sunday afternoon, Premier Doug Ford spoke in awe of her ability to repeatedly win elections “not worrying about taking a donation.” She would “just put her name on the ballot. And win 90 per cent of the vote, it’s unheard of.”
It was in support of Ford that McCallion made political headlines even into her final days. Earlier this month, she issued a controversial statement in support of opening up protected Greenbelt land to housing development. As the recently appointed chair of the Greenbelt Council she called the Ford government’s plan “brave, important, responsible and necessary” — an about-face for the council that was called “shockingly wrong” by advocacy group Environmental Defence.
Even up until the end, McCallion “was sharp as a tack,” Ford said. “She was an icon. She built Mississauga.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said: “My dear friend Hazel was an extraordinary woman who wore many hats: a businessperson, an athlete, a politician and one of Canada’s — and the world’s — longest-serving mayors … she was unstoppable.”
McCallion left elected politics after 12 terms as Mississauga mayor in December 2014, at age 93, but barely slowed down. She served as “chief elder officer” for seniors home chain Revera, sat on company boards, advised politicians who often courted her for endorsements, and became the first chancellor of Sheridan College, which named a campus after her.
Other honours include news, announced on her 101st birthday, that an 18-kilometre light-rail transit route between Port Credit and Brampton would be the Hazel McCallion Line.
At the announcement, McCallion’s mayoral successor Bonnie Crombie said: “If you know Mississauga, you know that Hazel’s fingerprints have touched every corner of our city.”
McCallion responded: “I’ve had many things named after me. This one is really unusual and unique.”
On Sunday, Crombie memorialized McCallion as “not only my mentor and political role model but the reason why so many Canadian women were inspired to enter politics.”
“We should all strive to follow her example.”
Speaking about arrangements for a public funeral, Ford said the province is working with the city of Mississauga on protocol. “We’ve offered a state funeral for her and I’m sure that you’ll see people from all over the country,” he said. “You’ll see previous premiers. I’m sure the prime minister.”
Hazel Journeaux was born in the tiny waterfront village of Port Daniel on Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula in 1921 to parents Herbert, owner of a fish processing plant, and Amanda, a nurse. She was the youngest of five children.
