Hurricane Hazel: A Life With Purpose by Hazel McCallion: Review - 2014-10-20
Over her 36 years as Mississauga’s mayor, Hazel McCallion has heard all the nicknames but says her favourite is Hurricane Hazel. She fancies it so much she uses it as the title of her long-awaited memoir, Hurricane Hazel: A Life With Purpose. McCallion’s autobiography is just as feisty, plain-spoken and straight-shooting as the woman herself. She explains upfront, “I want people to read about my accomplishments — and my failures — so that they see that women can be leaders or hockey players; that seniors need not be put out to pasture simply because of their age; and that hard work truly does pay off.” She takes a swipe at the Toronto Star, calling it “the self-appointed arbiter of all things politically correct.” But, contrarily, she also includes several Star references that praise her. (Interestingly, her co-writer is former Star reporter
Robert Brehl.)