Prime Minister Trudeau, former PM Chretien will attend Hazel McCallion funeral in Mississauga

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, will attend the state funeral tomorrow morning (Feb. 14) of former longtime Mississauga mayor Hazel McCallion.

Given the prime minister’s busy schedule, it wasn’t clear if he would make it to Mississauga for the final farewell to the Canadian political icon who left her mark on Canada’s seventh-largest city and well beyond.

However, the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed this afternoon that Trudeau’s Feb. 14 itinerary includes his attendance at the state funeral, which takes place at Paramount Fine Foods Centre starting at 11 a.m.

Trudeau will also deliver remarks to the gathering.

Former prime minister Jean Chretien, who met with McCallion on numerous occasions in their political heydays, is also expected to attend Tuesday’s funeral, being held on the day McCallion would’ve turned 102.

Dignitaries from across Ontario and beyond, family, friends and scores of Mississauga residents will also gather on Tuesday to say their final goodbye to Mississauga’s matriarch.

McCallion, who presided over the city she loved for 36 years, died on Jan. 29 after a month-long battle with pancreatic cancer.

City of Mississauga officials say a limited number of tickets to McCallion’s funeral are still available to the public free of charge.

Tickets are available online. Those who attend are asked to arrive at the venue one hour ahead of time, at 10 a.m.

Ontario Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Ontario Secretary of the Cabinet Michelle DiEmanuele and Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie are among dignitaries who’ll attend McCallion’s funeral.

The woman affectionately known for decades as “Hurricane Hazel” remained active on various boards of directors, including that of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, right up until she fell ill in December.

In lieu of flowers, the McCallion family has asked that donations be made to Trillium Health Partners Foundation or the Hazel McCallion Charitable Foundation for Arts, Culture and Heritage.