We look forward to seeing you at our May meeting at the Beaver Valley Community Centre. Please register if you plan to attend this meeting—so that we have enough chairs and coffee for everyone! (Each member of a couple must register individually in order to get the correct count!)
Date: May 27, 2025
Doors open: 1:00 PM
Meeting begins: 1:30 PM
Speaker: Annemarie Hagan
Title: The Unexpected Life of Mayor “Hurricane Hazel” McCallion
As a retired Museum Curator, Annmarie Hagan has researched a number of untold and little-known Canadian stories. Join us for this exploration of Mayor Hazel’s surprising life and legacies.
Hazel McCallion: When she died at the age of 101 in January 2023, former Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion was mourned across Canada. And honoured in a State funeral. Born to humble roots on the Gaspe Peninsula, Quebec on Valentine’s Day 1921, Hazel lived an inspiring and unexpected life.
From her early days on a Women’s Pro Hockey team in Montreal, to leading Mississauga, one of Canada’s largest and fastest growing cities for 36 years, Hazel was a unique and outspoken leader. Even scandals couldn’t keep her down!
Annemarie Hagan is an award-winning curator and museum professional with over thirty-five years’ experience. From 1998 to 2014 she was Manager of the Museums of Mississauga, shepherding the growth of the museums, including the restorations of Benares Historic House, the Port Credit Log Cabin, and the Leslie Log House. More recently, she was Senior Curator, History at the Peel Art Gallery, Museum, and Archives (PAMA) in Brampton. Her work there included innovative collaborations with local Sikh, Muslim, Black, and Indigenous communities. A life-long history nerd, Annemarie has a B.A. in History and Women’s Studies from University of Toronto and an M.A. in Public History from University of Waterloo. Annemarie now enjoys a quiet life in the historic town of Fergus, Ontario.
Book Exchange:
The Book Exchange will be set up at the back of the room starting at 1 PM. Books should have a copyright date no older than 10 years. Bring a Book, Take a Book. We ask that you exchange no more than 3 books at a time. Please contact Nancy Hart with any questions!