Hazel McCallion, Mayor, City of Mississauga

Now in her 11th term, Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion is the longest serving mayor in the city's history. Born in Port Daniel on the Gaspe Coast of Québec and educated in Québec City and Montreal, she entered municipal politics in 1967.

First elected Mayor of Mississauga in November 1978, McCallion has played a leading role for women in politics. She has served on virtually every committee at the Region of Peel and the City of Mississauga, as well as served on the executive of many federal and provincial committees and associations, including a term as President of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario from 1978 to 1979.

In May 2005, McCallion was honoured with an award from the Province of Ontario in recognition of her more than 30 years of service as a municipal elected official and in November of the same year she was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada and received her Insignia of Member of the Order of Canada at a ceremony held at Rideau Hall.

McCallion has three children: Peter, Linda and Paul, and one granddaughter, Erika, and enjoys ice hockey, fishing and gardening.