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This web page is an attempt to preserve information about the remarkable Hazel McCallion, nicknamed "Hurricane Hazel", Mayor of the City of Mississauga, on her 91st Birthday on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2012.
Video and information from Hazel McCallion marks Valentine's Day with 91st birthday by Erin Criger and Ashleigh Smollet, CityNews.ca, February 14, 2012.
"Hurricane" Hazel McCallion turns 91 years old Tuesday Video from CityTV, February 2012.
"Not only is Tuesday Valentine's Day, it's also Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion's 91st birthday.
But the mayor isn’t slowing down. She says her day runs from 5:30 a.m. until 11 p.m.
'I haven’t changed my agenda in any way. Unless illness affects me, I will give the citizens the full time,' she told CityNews reporter Francis D’Souza.
McCallion, who has been mayor since 1978, won her 12th term in 2010, and insists this is her last turn at the helm of the city.
She's been the mayor of Mississauga for 33 years and will be 94 years old at the end of the term.
Under her leadership, Mississauga became the third largest city in Ontario and the sixth largest in Canada, with a population of 734,000.
2012 will mark the first year the city has to borrow money – Mississauga is set to upgrade all traffic lights to LED lights in a $38 million project.
The last few years of McCallion’s reign have been rocky.
In 2009, a conflict of interest inquiry was launched into a land deal involving the mayor and her son. Peter McCallion, a real estate agent in a deal between World Class Developments and the city to build a high-end hotel and convention centre near Mississauga city hall, testified he wasn't aware he was a part owner of WCD. He stood to benefit financially from the $14.4-million plan.
In the end, an inquiry found McCallion intervened in the land deal on numerous occasions, including after the co-owners terminated the deal. The Mayor attempted to have the litigation settled.
'The last couple of years have been very difficult because of the controversy in the city…I regret in the regard that it turned out the way it did, but all I did was assist in getting the land sold…That was the only role I did. That didn’t mean it was going to get approved by the city,' said McCallion.
But despite the scandal, McCallion recently topped a list of Canada’s most popular mayors with a 78 per cent approval rating."
Information from Wikipedia:
"Hazel McCallion, née Journeaux, CM (born February 14, 1921) is the mayor of Mississauga, Ontario. McCallion has been Mississauga's mayor for 33 years, holding office since 1978. She is affectionately called "Hurricane Hazel" by supporters as well as the media at large for her vibrant outspoken style of no-nonsense politics . . .
She ranked second in the 2005 international World Mayor poll, behind only Dora Bakoyannis of Athens."
Information from World Mayor: Profile of Hazel McCallion, Mayor of Mississauga, Canada by Andrew Stevens, Political Editor.
Information from World Mayor: Hazel McCallion interviewed by an international audience.
"From Susan B., Mississauga
Question: What do you regard as your greatest achievement?
Mayor McCallion replies: I have been blessed to have many achievements throughout my career but probably the one I am most proud of is having my vision of what the City would become made a reality. I had an image that Mississauga would grow from a small bedroom community into one of the most vibrant cities in our country and seeing Mississauga become the third largest city in Ontario and the sixth largest in Canada has surpassed my expectations . . ."
Information from: www.mississauga.ca/portal/cityhall/mayor.
About the Mayor:
"Hazel McCallion was first elected Mayor of Mississauga in November, 1978, and is the longest serving Mayor in the City's history. She was acclaimed in 1980, re-elected in 1982 and 1985, acclaimed again in 1988 and re-elected in 1991, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2006 and 2010.
Mayor McCallion was born in Port Daniel on the Gaspe Coast of Quebec and educated in Quebec City and Montreal. She then began her career in Montreal with Canadian Kellogg, an engineering and contracting firm, and was transferred to Toronto in 1942 to help set up the local office. Mayor McCallion was involved in many projects including the Lakeview Generating Station, the British American refinery in Clarkson, the first synthetic rubber plant in Sarnia and the pilot project for the tar sands in Fort McMurray, Alberta. Mayor McCallion remained with the company for 19 years. In 1967 she decided to leave the corporate world and devote her career to politics.
Mayor McCallion was named as a new member of the Streetsville Planning Board in 1964 and served as Chair of the Board in 1966 and again in 1968. Later that same year, she became Deputy Reeve of Streetsville. Mayor McCallion was appointed Reeve, and then elected as Mayor of Streetsville in 1970, serving until December, 1973. When the Region of Peel was established in 1974, Mayor McCallion was elected to the Mississauga and Peel Regional Councils. She served two terms as a Councillor prior to her mayoral campaign in 1978. By the time she was elected Mayor, she had sat on virtually every committee at the Region of Peel and the City of Mississauga. She has also served on the executive of many federal and provincial committees and associations, including President of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) from 1978 - 79. She is now in her eleventh term as Mayor.
In 1991, Mayor McCallion became the first Mayor of a major municipality to submit the annual operating budget to residents for their input and scrutiny. She is also among the first mayors of major municipalities to be openly committed to a pay-as-you-go philosophy. The City has not had to borrow money since 1978 and is currently debt-free. Mayor McCallion also established the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) Mayors' Committee in 1992. She brought together the 30 GTA Mayors, later adding the Chair of Metro Toronto and the four Regional Chairs to work co-operatively for the economic promotion of the GTA. From 1992 to January 2000, the Committee, chaired by Mayor McCallion, was a strong voice on key issues affecting the future of the GTA. As part of that effort, she is a founder and Honorary Co-chair of the Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance. In 1996, Mayor McCallion was appointed to the "Who Does What" Panel established by the Province to review the delivery and funding of government services. She was also appointed to two sub-panels: Assessment and Property Taxation Reform, and Emergency Services.
In addition, the Mayor represented the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) on the Electricity Transition Committee for the Ministry of Electricity, Science and Technology. In February 2002, Mayor McCallion was appointed Chair of the Central Ontario Smart Growth Panel by the Hon. Chris Hodgson, Minister of Municipal Affairs. The panel, made up of 22 local government officials and business leaders, advised the provincial government on how to plan for growth for the central region in both the short and long term. In addition to the pressing issue of growth, the panel looked at other issues including gridlock and waste disposal. The panel, the largest in the province, includes the cities of Brantford and Kawartha Lakes, the Counties of Dufferin, Simcoe and Peterborough, the Regions of Niagara, Waterloo, Halton, Peel, York and Durham, as well as the City of Toronto.
Mayor McCallion has played a leading role for women in politics. She is the first woman to hold such significant positions as President of the Streetsville and District Chamber of Commerce; President of the Anglican Young Peoples' Association of Canada; Mayor of Streetsville and Mayor of Mississauga. She was chosen one of the "American Women of the Year" in Who's Who of American Women (which refers to North American women). Mayor McCallion also holds Germany's highest individual honour, the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, for her role in bringing German companies to Canada. In addition, Her Worship has been awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship by Rotary International in 1985 and 1992, awarded the Lions International President's Award, awarded the Helen Keller Fellowship from the Mississauga Lions Clubs and named a Melvin Jones Fellow for dedicated humanitarian services by Lions Clubs International.
In 2001, Mayor McCallion was inducted into the Mississauga Sports Hall of Fame and presented with a special Award of Excellence in celebration of the Mississauga Board of Trade's 25th Anniversary. In January 2003, Mayor McCallion received the Canadian Family Values Award from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In September 2003, Mayor McCallion received one of the top leadership awards from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) for her leadership and dedication to addressing economic development issues in Mississauga. In 2004, Mayor McCallion became a finalist for the title World Mayor 2004, joining some 50 mayors from Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe. The competition intends to raise the profile of mayors worldwide, as well as honour those who have served their communities well and who have contributed to the well-being of cities, nationally and internationally.
In 2005, Mayor McCallion was invested as Dame in the Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, Knights of Malta, the Hereditary Order. In May, she was honoured with an award from the Province of Ontario in recognition of her more than 30 years of service as a municipal elected official.
The Mayor's accolades continued in 2005, as Mayor McCallion was appointed Member of the Order of Canada and received her Insignia of Member of the Order of Canada at a ceremony held at Rideau Hall on November 18, 2005. Then on December 5, 2005 it was announced that Mayor McCallion was the runner up to Mayor Dora Bakoyannis of Athens, Greece for World Mayor 2005.
In early 2006, Mayor McCallion was recognized as the CNW Communicator of the Year by the Toronto Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC). Mayor McCallion has also been recognized by Reader's Digest as the Best City Mayor in their June 2006 issue featuring "Canada's 30 Best". In September, Mayor McCallion was named a Professional Land Economist by the Association of Ontario Land Economists. Mayor McCallion was also honoured by the Yee Hong Community Wellness Foundation with their 2006 Golden Achievement Award. 2006 wrapped up in award winning style, as the City of Mississauga and the Healthy City Stewardship Centre were awarded the 2006 World Leadership Award for the Stewardship Centre Initiative and the Healthy Mississauga 2010 Plan.
In March of 2007, Mayor McCallion was named a member of the Metrolinx Board of Directors. In April, Mayor McCallion was presented with the inaugural President's Award by the Professional Engineers of Ontario during their annual Order of Honour Awards Gala Ceremony. In May, Mayor McCallion was recognized by Hockey Canada at their Annual General Meeting with their Female Breakthrough Award. June saw Mayor McCallion receive the EVE Award, for her contribution of more than 30 years of service to public life by the Board of Directors of Equal Voice and the Canadian Club. In September, Mayor McCallion was one of eight finalists for the JoAnna Townsend Award, which honours a woman who helps women entrepreneurs achieve success in international business. In November, Mayor McCallion was named 2007 Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 by the Women's Executive Network and was awarded with a Trailblazers and Trendsetters award.
In January of 2008, the Mississauga Chapter of Scouts Canada awarded Mayor McCallion with the Centennial Medal in honour of her support to scouting. At the annual Federation of Canadian Municipalities Conference in May, Mayor McCallion was honoured with an award for outstanding service in municipal politics. October saw Mayor McCallion honoured by the Ontario Municipal Administrators’ Association with the Robert Baldwin Award. This award recognizes a career of achievement and service in the field of municipal administration, significant and lasting contributions to municipal and local government in Ontario, and service to the community, Ontario and Canada by those who work in municipal government. Mayor McCallion is the first elected official to receive this award. On October 16, Mayor McCallion was honoured by Enersource with the naming of a Municipal Substation after her.
On February 24, 2009, Mayor McCallion was honoured by The Biotechnology Initiative with the Community Service Award for her support of the Life Sciences sector in Mississauga. On June 5, Mayor McCallion was honoured by the Canadian Urban Institute with the 2009 Urban Leadership Award in the City Prosperity Category. In August, Mayor McCallion was commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel by the Commonwealth of Kentucky for the Mayor's contribution to society and an ambassador of good will and fellowship around the world.
In April, 2010 Mayor McCallion was honoured by the Mississauga Board of Trade with a Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to the community, province and country. On June 7, Mayor McCallion was conferred with the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa by the University of Toronto during their convocation ceremony for graduates of the University of Toronto Mississauga. Mayor McCallion was honoured with the honorary Doctor of Laws in recognition of her remarkable contributions to public life. In October Mayor McCallion was elected to her 12th consecutive as Mayor of Mississauga.
In March, 2011 Mayor McCallion was honoured by the Ottawa Chapter of the Famous 5 as a “Nation Builder”. The Famous 5 Ottawa’s aim is to raise awareness of the Persons Case, where in 1929, thanks to the efforts of the Famous Five, Canadian women were legally declared persons.
Some other interesting credits:
Past Chairman, Mississauga Taxicab Authority
Past Chairman, Mississauga Planning Committee
Past Chairman, Mississauga Sign Committee
Past Chair, World Health Organization Symposiums on Healthy Cities
Past Vice-Chairman, Advisory Committee on Local Government Management
Past President, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario
Past Vice-President, World Conference of Mayors
Past member, Municipal Liaison Committee
Past Board of Directors, Regional Director - Canada, American Public Transportation Association
Governor, Canada Jaycees
Chair, Large Urban Mayors' Caucus of Ontario (LUMCO)
Board of Directors, Enersource Hydro Mississauga Corporation
Member, Advisory Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) Centre for Health Development
Past Member, Greater Toronto Transit Authority Board (GO Transit)
Member, Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), Nomination Ad Hoc Committee
Member, Region of Peel, Local Governance Ad Hoc Committee
Member, Canadian Federation of Municipalities
Member, Advisory Council for University Scholarships of Canada
Member, Advisory Council on the Transportation of Dangerous Goods
Member, Transit Integration Steering Committee
Honorary Chair, ecoSource Mississauga
Honorary Chair, Women's World Hockey Tournament, 1987, 1997 and 2000
Honorary Chair, Mississauga Technology Association
Honorary Chair, 2003 Purple Ribbon Campaign for Peel Children's Aid Foundation
Honorary Director, Mississauga Chinese Business Association
Honorary international member, Beta Sigma Phi
Honorary life member, Polish Alliance of Canada
Honorary life member, Mississauga Real Estate Board
Honourable member, Board of Regents, Ontario Women's Hockey Association
Honorary member Mississauga Kinsmen
Honorary member Mississauga Central Lions Club
Honorary member Mississauga Rotary Club
Honorary member, Alpha Delta Kappa
Honorary member, National Council of the Boy Scouts of Canada
Honorary member, Mississauga Italian-Canadian Business and Professional Association
Honorary member, Probus Club of Streetsville
Honorary Chair of Carassauga
Journeyman's Certificate from the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America
Honorary Chair, Mississauga Construction Association
Named a Professional Land Economist by the Association of Ontario Land Economists
Metrolinx Board Member
Hazel McCallion Senior Public School (opened in 1991)
Hazel McCallion Academic Learning Centre, University of Toronto Mississauga (opened 2007)
In addition, Mayor McCallion has established many citizens' committees:
Mayor's Task Force on Building Deficiencies
Mayor's Energy Task Force
Mayor's Youth Advisory Committee
Mayor's Youth Opportunities Committee
Mississauga Clean City Campaign (ecoSource Mississauga)
Mississauga Sports Council
Mississauga Arts Council
Mississauga Friendship Association (Kariya, Japan - Mississauga Twin Cities)
Economic Development Advisory Committee
Citizens' Task Force on the Future of Mississauga
Mississauga Arts Review Taskforce
Mayor's Task Force on Sports
Mayor McCallion was married to Sam McCallion who passed away in 1997. She has three children: Peter, Linda and Paul, and one granddaughter, Erika. Mayor McCallion enjoys many sports including ice hockey, fishing and also enjoys gardening."
Last update: December 2010
Information from Hockey Hall of Fame:
"Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion began playing hockey in the late 1920s in Port Daniel on the Gaspe coast of Quebec. With her two older sisters playing defense, Hazel took her spot as a lightning quick centre on a team in a ladies' league. After moving to Montreal, McCallion turned 'professional', earning $5 a game to play for Kik Cola, one of three teams in a ladies' league there. Since first being elected as mayor of Mississauga, Ontario in 1978, Hazel McCallion has been able to spread her influence into other hockey-related areas, including sitting on the board of the Ontario Women's Hockey League, obtaining ice time for girls' hockey and helping Mississauga build the Hershey Centre. In 1998, Hazel McCallion assisted a group headed by hockey personality Don Cherry in securing a franchise for the Mississauga IceDogs in the Ontario Hockey League."
Information from Hockey Canada Honours Hazel by John Stewart, May 28, 2007.
"After 80 years playing and supporting the game she loves, Mayor Hazel McCallion has been honoured for her contributions by Hockey Canada. The 86-year-old mayor accepted the Female Hockey Breakthrough Award in Winnipeg recently.
The game of hockey has come a long way since I first started playing,” McCallion said after accepting the award. “Hockey Canada has done a great service in leading both men and women’s hockey, and creating a positive environment for everyone to get involved.”
As a young woman, McCallion played regularly in female hockey leagues in Montreal. She was instrumental in having the Hershey Centre built in Mississauga and attracting an Ontario Hockey League franchise. McCallion has also been a long-time champion of women’s hockey. She has maintained a quarter-century association with the Ontario Women’s Hockey League and was the honourary chair of the Women’s World Hockey Tournaments in 1987, 1997 and 2000. Some world championship games were played in Mississauga.
Hockey Canada’s Female Hockey Council recognizes an individual each year for their outstanding leadership, contribution, development and advancement of female hockey in Canada. Nominated by the branch office in Calgary, McCallion was recognized for her, 'invaluable contribution to Canada’s national winter game.'"
This article is for personal use only courtesy of YourOttawaRegion.com - a division of Metroland Media Group Ltd.
