Former Mississauga mayor ‘Hurricane Hazel’ to have a state funeral, details announced

Former longtime Mayor of Mississauga, the late Hazel McCallion, will have a state funeral on February 14, which would have been her 102nd birthday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s office announced on Thursday.

The funeral is scheduled to happen at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre in Mississauga on February 14 at 11 am, with the Premier’s office stating that there will be limited seating for the public.

Premier Doug Ford, as well as Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell and Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie, will be in attendance at the funeral.

The government of Ontario’s YouTube channel as well as the Living Arts Centre will live stream the funeral for those unable to attend.

Flags will be flown at half-mast across the province on February 14 to pay respect to the late mayor.

During her 36-year tenure as the mayor between 1978 and 2014, McCallion was given the nickname “Hurricane Hazel” by her supporters. The former mayor passed away on January 29, 2023, at the age of 101.