Statement from THP and THPF on Honourary Guardian Hazel McCallion

We stand alongside millions of people across Canada, Ontario, and this great city of Mississauga, in mourning the loss of our Honourary Guardian, Hazel McCallion. As a fearless, intrepid leader with a big vision for this city and the health of its people, Hazel was born to lead a life of purpose and her impact on Trillium Health Partners (THP) alone is immeasurable.

Hazel was deeply committed to giving back through public service and philanthropy throughout her nearly 102-years. She fiercely led innovation and progress in our city. We owe so much of the success of THP to her bold vision of building a better health care system to serve this community. This included her instrumental role in manifesting the Credit Valley Hospital. She saw the need for a new hospital in Mississauga and led the charge to make it happen, with many of the planning decisions made with community leaders at her kitchen table.

To bring all parts of the community together to focus on better health, Hazel created the Healthy City Stewardship Centre. Through this she galvanized partners across Mississauga, from hospitals and public health, to education, community and emergency services, toward change for better health. At THP, her leadership supported the improvement and expansion of hospital services, through planning, guidance, fundraising and more. Her support helped to strengthen and grow world-leading specialized programs like the Carlo Fidani Regional Cancer Centre at the Credit Valley Hospital and the Hazel McCallion Centre for Heart Health at the Mississauga Hospital. She was a driving force behind the introduction of medical education at THP through the establishment of the Mississauga Academy of Medicine at the University of Toronto-Mississauga Campus. These are just highlights of a lifetime of extraordinary support for the health of our community.

In honour of Hazel McCallion’s innumerable contributions to support the delivery of health care in this community, THP launched The Hazel McCallion Award in Quality of Care to recognize interprofessional teams delivering health care excellence; created the Hazel McCallion Research Chair in Learning Health Systems with THP’s Institute for Better Health; and named Hazel McCallion the inaugural Honorary Guardian of THP.

Throughout her life Hazel believed in supporting others through volunteerism and philanthropy. Her annual Mayor’s Gala and golf tournaments raised millions, and she was not shy about asking for funds to support health care in her great city. In retirement, Hazel continued to fundraise for Trillium Health Partners as an iconic and constant presence at galas and other events where she was known to occasionally conquer the dance floor. She endorsed a fundraising book that celebrated her 100th birthday in 2021, Hazel McCallion: A Century of Accomplishment, and lent her name and led participants at the Hazel McCallion Walk for Health in 2022, which raised over half a million dollars in its first year alone.

To the very end she was a champion and a trailblazer, who cared deeply for those who work on the frontlines caring for patients and their families each and every day.

Thank you Hazel for your inspiring legacy and for being a friend and partner like no other in keeping the people of Mississauga healthy and safe. It is an amazing honour to have you serve as our Honouary Guardian, both in life and in passing. The impact of your work, guidance and courage will continue to serve this community within THP’s walls and beyond for generations to come.