Hazel McCallion was born on February 14, 1921 in Port Daniel, Quebec, a small fishing community on the Gaspe Peninsula. She played professional hockey until moving to Toronto to work with Canadian Kellogg for 19 years.

In 1967 she left the corporate world to devote her career to politics. She was mayor of Streetsville from 1970-1973, In 1974, Streetsville, Port Credit and the town of Mississauga amalgamated to form the City of Mississauga. McCallion was elected as Mississauga's third mayor in 1978.

In 1979, only one year as mayor, McCallion evacuated over 230,000 city residents due to chlorine and chemicals emitted from the explosion of train cars in what became known as the "Mississauga Miracle," McCallion was successful in 12 straight municipal elections and was nicknamed "Hurricane Hazel" for her tenacity and her desire to create change in her City. While in office as Mayor of Mississauga she tripled the population, while operating the City debt free. She is the past chair, honorary chair and honorary member of many committees and associations across Canada such as the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and World Conference of Mayors and Women's World Hockey Tournament.

She was inducted into the Mississauga Sports Hall of Fame in 2001, appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 2005, to the Order of Ontario in 2021, and was runner up as World Mayor in 2005. In 2014, McCallion authored her autobiography, Hurricane Hazel - A Life with Purpose. Since stepping down at the end of her term in 2014, she worked as the Chief Elder Officer of Revera Incorporated, was appointed as Special Advisor to the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), and was named the first Chancellor of Sheridan College. In 2016, February 14th was renamed Hazel McCalllion Day across the province of Ontario in honour of McCallion's birthday. She made many causes her passion, but throughout her life, she always supported youth and their development, championing many causes to provide young people with opportunity.