In honour of the late former Mayor of Mississauga, Hazel McCallion, we dedicate this blog in celebration of her unwavering commitment to our city’s economic growth, her dedication to Mississauga’s business community, and the remarkable legacy she leaves behind.
“Running the City like a business” was Hazel’s response to how she successfully led and built a strong and vibrant city. From a farming community to one of the largest business centres in Canada, Hazel’s vison for a globally minded city took flight through her support of economic development and her persistent advocacy for Mississauga to attract, retain and grow business.
When it came to business relations, Hazel McCallion was a person of action and went the distance to support her business community. It was important for her to stay connected to businesses and let them know that they are supported by the City and that they are a valuable asset to Mississauga’s economy.
Hazel’s vision for building a strong and sustainable economy included the growth of a diverse business community anchored by world renowned leading edge companies that bring investment and skilled jobs to the city. This vision has since become a reality as the city is now home to some of Canada’s key growth sectors, such as Life Sciences, Aerospace and Technology.
Mississauga couldn’t have asked for a better ambassador than Hazel, who has helped many of our 1,400 multinational firms set up operations in the city. Hazel played a significant role in building Mississauga’s global platform through various investment missions and international conferences she attended and the delegations that she welcomed to our city.
Hazel McCallion was also instrumental in establishing and nurturing the City’s Sister City relationship with Kariya, Japan, a union that recently celebrated its 40th anniversary. This relationship did not only strengthen cultural ties, but built business connections that continue to grow and prosper as is evidenced by the over 100 Japanese companies that now call Mississauga home.
As the former Mayor, Hazel always took a personal approach to supporting EDO and participated in many economic development initiatives. From supporting our economic development strategy, to promoting our new services and products, we could always count on her for her active participation and genuine commitment.
As we say a sad farewell to Hazel McCallion, we also say thank you for her contributions towards building our city’s strong foundation that continues to flourish and prosper today. For information about upcoming public memorial activities for Hazel McCallion, click here.
