McCallion chairs last meeting as mayor

It’s the end of an era in Mississauga. The city’s mayor — known affectionately as Hurricane Hazel — is getting ready to retire after nearly four decades in charge.

Today, Hazel McCallion chaired her last city council meeting before next month’s municipal election. And while there is still one more meeting before the new mayor is sworn in, McCallion will essentially be a lame duck, not being able to make any substantial or financial decisions. So today was her last real meeting as mayor. Reflecting back on her 36 years in the role, she says she’s very proud of the city she has helped create and this is not the last we’ll see of her when it comes to politics.

Hazel McCallion: “Instead of wasting our time, you should be in Ottawa kicking them.”

Hurricane Hazel is still going strong, after 36 years as Mississauga’s longest-serving mayor. The 93-year old is ready to retire.

Hazel McCallion: “I’m certainly going to miss it. I’ve loved dealing with the administration. Over the 36 years, I can’t remember any council meeting turning into a disaster.”

But when another disaster, in the form of a train derailment, occurred shortly after McCallion was elected in 1978, she was credited with being instrumental in the peaceful evacuation of the city. It’s just one of her many accomplishments over the years: “To think, we took a city which was a bedroom community and built it into a self-sustaining community with an economic base that most city’s would give their right arm for.”

And as her list of achievements grew, so too did her popularity — even making an appearance on the ‘Live with Regis and Kelly show in New York. But McCallion also acknowledges where she feels she failed Mississauga during her 12 consecutive terms as the first-female mayor: “One of my big disappointments, I was not able to successfully bring a convention centre to Mississauga.”

Fellow and former council members now running for her spot say they’ve learned a lot from her.

Councillor Bonnie Crombie: “She has been an inspiration to me, and a mentor to me, and an inspiration to so many. Because of her strong leadership, she has really left us on a solid foundation.”

Candidate Steve Mahoney: “The first thing Hazel taught me is that if you don’t say no once in awhile, you’re not doing your job. So that’s obviously an issue. She has built a very strong city, and probably the best city from an administrative perspective in the entire country.”

And residents agree.

“It’s a great place to live, it’s just prospering, and so if they can choose a good mayor to replace her and many blessings to Hazel, she’s done an awesome job.”

“She was great a mayor. Hopefully now the next person will come and do the same as she did.”

“I would really like if she could stay. If the next mayor could be just like her. I mean, she’s done a lot for the city. I mean, look at this — creating a lot of jobs, and that’s what a city needs.”

McCallion says she will continue to be active in politics, showing that Hurricane Hazel is still a force to be reckoned with.

McCallion also says if city council ever needs her advice, she will be more than willing to help out. She also alluded to working in some capacity at the provincial level once her time as mayor is done. And she’s found the perfect way to celebrate that – she’ll be releasing an autobiography the middle of next month.