Mississauga’s former iconic mayor continues to grab global attention

Whether or not you’re a fan of Hazel McCallion, you have to give her credit for at least one thing–she’s always known how to grab the headlines.

That still holds true today as the former longtime Mississauga mayor, who left office nearly eight years ago, continues to make the news on the local front, nationally and internationally.

One month after being profiled in the New York Times, McCallion is featured in two stories today (April 12) in the UK.

Both The Guardian and Independent daily online newspapers in England have done pieces on McCallion in the wake of her reappointment last week to the board of directors of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), which runs Pearson Airport in Mississauga.

“Hurricane Hazel: Canada political icon, 101, still flying high as airport director” reads the headline of The Guardian story while the Independent went with a headline that exaggerates McCallion’s role with the GTAA: “101-year-old known as Hurricane Hazel signs up to run Toronto airport.”

McCallion, 101, has remained active since leaving office in 2014 and sits on several private sector boards in addition to the board of directors of the GTAA.

She was reappointed last week to a three-year term as director, federal representative, on the GTAA body. She was first appointed to the board in 2017.

The Canadian political icon told insauga.com late last year that she enjoys keeping busy with her work on the various boards.

McCallion, who served as mayor of Mississauga for 36 years, was appointed a member of the Order of Canada in 2005 and awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Toronto in 2010.

She’s been a special adviser to University of Toronto Mississauga since 2015.