Hazel McCallion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hazel McCallion
CM OOnt
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McCallion in 2010
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| 1st Chancellor of Sheridan College | |
| In office June 6, 2016 – January 29, 2023 |
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| Preceded by | Position established |
| 5th Mayor of Mississauga | |
| In office December 1, 1978 – November 30, 2014 |
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| Preceded by | Ron Searle |
| Succeeded by | Bonnie Crombie |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Hazel Journeaux
February 14, 1921 Port Daniel, Quebec, Canada |
| Died | January 29, 2023 (aged 101) Mississauga, Ontario, Canada |
| Political party | Independent |
| Spouse |
Sam McCallion
(m. 1951; died 1997) |
| Children | 3 |
| Profession | |
| Signature |  |
Hazel McCallion (born Journeaux; February 14, 1921 – January 29, 2023) was a Canadian businesswoman and politician. She was the fifth mayor of Mississauga, serving from 1978 until 2014.
McCallion was first elected in November 1978. She became the longest-serving mayor in Mississauga's history, holding the position for 36 years. She won twelve city elections, sometimes without anyone running against her. Her supporters called her "Hurricane Hazel" because of her strong and direct way of speaking. This nickname also referred to a big storm called Hurricane Hazel that hit in 1954.
After her time as mayor, McCallion became the first chancellor of Sheridan College.
Contents
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Hazel Journeaux was born on February 14, 1921, in Port Daniel, Quebec. Her father owned a fishing and canning company. Her mother managed their family farm and home. Hazel had two older sisters and two older brothers.
After finishing high school, she went to business secretarial schools in Quebec City and Montreal. While studying in Montreal, she played for a professional women's ice hockey team. She had started playing hockey in the late 1920s in her hometown. She played with her two sisters on their team. Later, she earned $5 per game playing hockey in Montreal for a team sponsored by Kik Cola.
Hazel wanted to go to university, but her family could not afford it. She started her career in Montreal with the Canadian Kellogg company. In 1942, she moved to Toronto to help set up their local office. In 1967, she left the business world to focus on a career in politics.
Political Journey
Starting in Politics
McCallion began her political journey in Streetsville, a town that later became part of Mississauga. Her first campaign was in 1964 for the role of deputy reeve. She was elected deputy reeve in 1967 and became reeve in 1968.
In 1970, she was elected mayor of Streetsville. She served until 1973. In 1974, Streetsville joined with the Town of Mississauga and the Town of Port Credit to form the City of Mississauga. McCallion had wanted Streetsville to remain a separate town.
By 1976, she won a seat on the Mississauga council without anyone running against her. Before becoming mayor of Mississauga, she had served on many important committees in the Peel Region and the City of Mississauga.
Mayor of Mississauga
McCallion was first elected mayor of Mississauga in 1978. She won against the current mayor, Ron Searle. She had only been in office for a few months when a major event happened. In 1979, a Canadian Pacific train carrying dangerous chemicals derailed in a busy area.
A large explosion and fire followed as the chemicals spilled. McCallion worked with the police and other officials to manage the situation. They successfully evacuated about 200,000 residents from the city. No one died or was seriously hurt during the week-long emergency. Mississauga became known for this successful evacuation.
During McCallion's time as mayor, Mississauga grew from a small group of towns into one of Canada's largest cities. Much of this growth happened as people and companies moved from Montreal to the Greater Toronto Area.
McCallion was easily re-elected throughout her time as mayor. She never campaigned during elections and did not accept political donations. Instead, she asked her supporters to give money to charity. Her last term as mayor was her twelfth in a row. She announced she would not run again in 2014 and supported Bonnie Crombie to take her place.
On her 90th birthday in 2011, a doctor said that McCallion was very healthy for her age. The doctor noted her strong walking, clear speech, and continued drive to lead the city.
Political Ideas
Even though political parties are not usually part of city elections in Canada, McCallion supported the Liberal Party at the federal and provincial levels. In 1982, she was even asked to consider running to lead the Ontario Liberal Party. She supported Kathleen Wynne in 2013 and 2014.
Later, McCallion supported Liberal leader Justin Trudeau in the 2015 federal election. She even appeared in a TV ad for the Liberals. However, in the 2018 Ontario provincial election, she supported PC leader Doug Ford, who became the Premier of Ontario.
In 2007, McCallion responded to the federal government not giving cities part of the Canadian goods and services tax. She decided to add a five percent charge to property taxes in Mississauga. She managed to get this approved by the city council on the same day. Many people noted that McCallion was one of the few mayors who could make such a big change happen so quickly.
McCallion was also one of the first Canadian politicians to openly support the creation of a Palestinian state. In 1983, she said that Palestinians deserved their own country.
Key Achievements
In 1992, McCallion created the GTA Mayors' Committee. She brought together 30 mayors and other leaders from the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). They worked together to promote the economy of the GTA. This committee was a strong voice on important issues affecting the future of the GTA. She also helped start the Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance.
In 1996, McCallion was part of a special panel that looked at how different levels of government share responsibilities. She also worked on groups focused on property taxes and emergency services.
McCallion was the first woman to hold many important positions. These included 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 also helped start "Hazel's Hope," a campaign to raise money for healthcare for children with AIDS and HIV in southern Africa.
She also hosted an annual event in Mississauga to raise money for arts and culture in the city.
Love for Hockey
McCallion had a strong connection to hockey. In 1987, a championship trophy for women's hockey was named the Hazel McCallion World Cup. She was also on the board of the Central Ontario Women's Hockey League.
She played a big part in building the Hershey Centre in Mississauga. She helped bring an Ontario Hockey League team to the city in 1998. She was also important in bringing the IIHF Women's World Hockey Championships to Mississauga in 2000.
After Politics
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In November 2015, McCallion became the chief elder officer (CEO) of Revera Inc. This company works in the senior living sector. She gave advice to the company.
In September 2011, Sheridan College opened its Hazel McCallion Campus in Mississauga. This campus grew much larger in 2018. In 2016, McCallion was named Sheridan's first chancellor. This was part of the college's plan to become a university. In February 2015, McCallion also became a special advisor to the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM). She advised on how the school could grow.
In 2017, McCallion joined the board of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority. She renewed this position in April 2022. In January 2019, Ontario Premier Doug Ford offered her a role as a special adviser. She later decided not to take the job. In October 2022, she was appointed to lead the Greenbelt Council advisory group by Premier Ford. In January 2023, she supported his plan to use some protected Greenbelt areas for housing.
Personal Life
Hazel Journeaux met Sam McCallion (1923–1997) at an Anglican Church in Toronto in 1951. They married on September 29 of that year. As a wedding gift, Sam's parents gave them land near the village of Streetsville, Ontario. They moved there in December 1951.
The couple had three children. They were married until Sam McCallion passed away from Alzheimer's disease in 1997.
As a volunteer, McCallion was also president of the Anglican Young People's Association of Canada. In the early 1960s, she was a district commissioner with the Girl Guides of Canada. Before she entered politics, she and her husband started a newspaper called The Streetsville Booster in 1964.
Hazel McCallion passed away from pancreatic cancer at home on January 29, 2023. She was 101 years old.
Recognition and Honours
In 2016, February 14 was named Hazel McCallion Day across Ontario. This was done to honor her birthday.
McCallion received many awards and honours:
- 1999: Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany for helping German companies come to Canada.
- 2002: Canadian version of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal.
- 2005: Member of the Order of Canada (CM).
- 2010: Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Toronto.
- 2012: Canadian version of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
- 2014: Order of the Rising Sun, 4th Class, Gold Rays with Rosette, from Japan, for supporting Japanese businesses in Mississauga.
- 2017: Key to the City of Mississauga.
- 2021: Appointed to the Order of Ontario (OOnt).
Things Named After Her
Several places and things have been named in her honour:
- Hazel McCallion Senior Public School
- Hazel McCallion Academic Learning Centre, at the University of Toronto Mississauga
- Hazel McCallion Centre for Heart Health, at Mississauga Hospital
- Hazel McCallion Campus, at Sheridan College
- Hazel McCallion Canada Day Parade, in Port Credit
- Mississauga McCallion Women's Softball League, started in 1980
- Hazel McCallion Central Library of the Mississauga Library System, renamed in 2021
- Hazel McCallion Line, a light-rail transit project from Mississauga to Brampton.
Images for kids
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Hazel McCallion's signature
