Hazel McCallion, former mayor of Mississauga and one of Canada’s longest serving mayors, passed away on January 29, 2023 at the age of 101.
McCallion served as the mayor of Mississauga for 12 consecutive terms from 1978 to 2014, retiring at the age of 93. Nicknamed “Hurricane Hazel”, she was known for her confident political style and leadership, which saw the transformation of Mississauga from a small-town community into the sixth largest city in Canada.
Born in 1921, in a small town in Quebec, she was the youngest of five children. She met her husband, Sam McCallion in 1945 and married in 1951. The couple had three children and were married for 46 years before his passing in 1997.
McCallion was a trailblazer for women in politics and in the workforce and began her political career as chair of Streetsville’s planning board and president of the local Chamber of Commerce. She then went on to become mayor of Streetsville and later served one term as a Mississauga councillor before running for mayor.
Under McCallion’s leadership, Mississauga transformed from an amalgamation of small towns and farmlands into a developed city and urban centre.
Upon her retirement from politics at the age of 93, she went on to become a special advisor at the University of Toronto, Mississauga campus, chancellor of Sheridan College and a Greater Toronto Airport Authority board member.
Commemoration
The City of Brampton has lowered flags at all its facilities in memory of Hazel McCallion.
A book of condolences is available in the City Hall atrium during weekday business hours, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm until February 14, 2023 for those who wish to pay their respects. An online version is also available below.
In lieu of flowers, the McCallion family has asked that donations be made to Trillium Health Partners Foundation or to the Hazel McCallion Charitable Foundation for Arts, Culture and Heritage.
Memorial information
A state funeral for Hazel McCallion will be held at Paramount Fine Foods Centre on Tuesday, February 14, 2023 at 11 a.m. Limited seating will be available. Members of the public who wish to attend must present a ticket upon entry. Tickets are not being sold, but must be provided due to limited space. Information will be available online as it becomes available.
For those unable to attend in person, the funeral service will be livestreamed on the Government of Ontario’s YouTube channel with closed captions and American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation. The funeral will also be livestreamed at the Living Arts Centre. Limited seating will be available. Members of the public who wish to attend must present a ticket upon entry. Tickets are not being sold, but must be provided due to limited space. Information will be available online as it becomes available.
Please visit for more details: https://www.mississauga.ca/hazel-mccallion-in-memory/