Much has been written lately and more is most certainly to come on the passing and legacy of the indomitable Hazel McCallion, Mississauga’s firebrand mayor for 36 years until her 2014 retirement.
I first met Hazel by chance over 20 years ago while sight-seeing in Ottawa one summer. We had a window seat in a restaurant with a view of the sidewalk and suddenly there she was. We recognized her immediately and waved. She came into where we were seated and said hello. Here she was in the nation’s capital, 425 kilometres from home, and the consummate retail politician.
Fast forward several years and I was fortunate to have opportunities to meet her again, in Mississauga this time, at events hosted by clients of mine. I was always anxious to get her take on whatever the news of the day was, and she was happy to oblige. Without exception I came away having learned something.
There is no doubt she had many of the qualities required of leadership: conviction, charm, energy, presence (despite being just over five feet tall) and the ability to communicate the reasons for her beliefs to an audience that might not share them.
Perhaps one thing she is seldom recognized for is what Walter Lippmann said: “The final test of a leader is that they leave behind in others the conviction and will to carry on.” Of all that she accomplished in service to her city, province and country that is what I will cherish the most.
