101-year-old known as ‘Hurricane Hazel’ signs up to run Toronto Airport
Former mayor had dabbled in engineering and professional hockey before her career in politics and airport management
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.An energetic 101-year-old former mayor has just signed up to another three years running Canada’s biggest airport.
Hazel McCallion - known as “Hurricane Hazel” - retired at 93 from her role as the mayor of Canadian city Mississauga, after 36 years in office.
Now she has renewed her contract as director of the Greater Toronto Airport Authority (GTAA), as well as staying on as special advisor to the University of Toronto Mississauga.
The GTAA runs Toronto Pearson Airport, Canada’s largest aviation hub which typically sees around 50 million passengers a year.
“I am pleased that Ms McCallion has accepted to continue to serve the Greater Toronto Airport Authority,” said the country’s federal transport minister, Omar Alghabra.
“She has dedicated more than 40 years of service to her community and continues to play an important role in overseeing and guiding Canada’s largest airport.”
Ms McCallion already has a school, a library, a baseball team and a parade named after her in the state of Ontario. February 14 is also “Hazel McCallion Day” throughout the state.
At her 100th birthday celebrations last year, the Ontario premier Doug Ford praised her as an “icon of Canada”, saying “I love her, she’s a mentor and she’s taught me so much and she’s always there for everyone”.
Earlier in her career, Ms McCallion worked in engineering and played professional hockey.
According to her biography on the University of Toronto Mississauga website, “Outside the political arena, McCallion is also a hockey fan and player. In 1940, McCallion joined the Women’s Professional Hockey League where she was known as a ‘fast skater and hard shot’, according to the Montreal Star, and she lost two teeth during a game.
“She was inducted into the Mississauga Sports Hall of Fame in 2001 and received Hockey Canada’s Female Breakthrough Award in 2007.”
Tom Urbaniak, a local professor and author of a biography about Ms McCallion, told The Guardian that Hurricane Hazel had had some dust-ups with the airport management in the past.
“She will stay active as long as she can,” he said. “But she was famously in a years-long running battle with the former head of the airport authority. He thought he would get the better of Hazel McCallion. And he didn’t.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments