Canadian leaders from far and wide are mourning the loss of Hazel McCallion, the second longest-serving mayor in Canada’s history.
She ruled Mississauga for over 30 years.
McCallion was known for many things, her love for hockey, fighting for the people of Mississauga and defying stereotypes for women in politics.
Canadian leaders came out in drones to share words of condolences for the late and former mayor.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford led the pack after he made the initial announcement of her death.
“There isn’t a single person who met Hazel who didn’t leave in awe of her force of personality,” he tweeted Sunday morning.
Soon after that an outpouring of love came in from across the country.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau joined in and said McCallion was “unstoppable.”
“She worked hard, fought for her community, and inspired countless others with her decades of tireless and selfless service. I’m going to miss you, my friend, and I’ll always cherish the chats we had – and the wisdom you shared – over the years,” he shared on Sunday.
Bonnie Crombie, Mississauga’s current mayor, paid her respects to the city’s first-ever female mayor who paved the way for her and others.
“Hazel lived a good life, and the truth is that even in her final days, she never stopped giving back to this great city and to the people who proudly call it home. As our first female mayor at a very critical time in our history, she helped grow and shape Mississauga,” she said in a statement.
Other notable Canadian leaders also spoke out:
Many Canadians spoke out passionately about McCallion, calling her a trailblazer who paved the way for Mississauga’s success.
Others, however, pointed to her past, and referenced the time she was under fire for allegedly mixing business and family.
In 2010, she received backlash for a failed $14.4-million land deal between the city and a development company partly owned by her son, Peter McCallion.
McCallion denied the conflict of interest and reportedly said she did not know her son owned that big of a share in the company and stood to gain so much if the deal had gone through.
The City of Mississauga is working on finalizing a memorial ceremony in her honour with more details to follow.
Additionally, a book of condolences will be available across Mississauga for public signage and a chance for anyone to pay their respects.
