Local government | March 4, 2021
The City of Mississauga’s Civic Centre clock tower will be lit purple and white on Monday, March 8 to commemorate International Women’s Day and celebrate the many women who have contributed to making Mississauga the vibrant city it is today.
Strong female leadership is not a new concept for the City of Mississauga. Mayor Hazel McCallion took office in 1978 and provided strong and stable leadership for 36 years, with Mayor Crombie following in her footsteps in 2014. Women have also been well represented on Mississauga’s Council over the years.
“This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is #ChoosetoChallenge. Equality can only be achieved if we come together, support each other and choose to challenge stereotypes, fight bias, and broaden our perception of gender roles,” said Mayor Bonnie Crombie. “Join me in choosing to challenge for gender equality.”
In 2017, the City of Mississauga collaborated with the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion to develop a Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Strategy with a goal of creating a respectful and supportive workplace that fosters a culture of diversity and inclusion. The City is working to create an organization which leverages diverse talents and ways of thinking to create innovative programs and services that meet the diverse needs of citizens. The Diversity and Inclusion Strategy has specific recommendations around important issues such as recruitment, leadership development and succession planning.
“We are committed to gender equity and we recognize the value of diverse backgrounds in helping us find the best solutions for our City,” said Paul Mitcham, City Manager and Chief Administrative Officer. “As City Manager, I am committed to working with Council and our Leadership Team to ensure we continue to advance our diversity and inclusion journey.”
Today, women fill approximately 43 per cent of all positions, including leadership positions, at the City of Mississauga, as well as some positions which are traditionally male-dominated in areas like Fire, Engineering, Construction, Security, Parks, Forestry and IT. One such example is Mississauga’s new permanent Fire Chief, Deryn Rizzi, who joined the City of Mississauga in January of this year.
“I’m pleased to be joining an organization which clearly values the contributions of women and has a history of women in leadership positions,” said Deryn Rizzi, Fire Chief, City of Mississauga. ”I look forward to working with all of my colleagues to contribute to the tradition of excellence the City of Mississauga is known for.”
To mark International Women’s Day, Mayor Crombie will be hosting a virtual fire-side chat with former Mayor Hazel McCallion, who will speak about her political career and provide advice for young women about making their mark in the world.
The Mississauga Business Enterprise Centre will be hosting a virtual Women’s Entrepreneur Conference: Re-Inventing in Times of Change on March 9. Register here.
On March 25, join the Museums of Mississauga in a free virtual discussion about some of the diverse women who have shaped the City of Mississauga for the betterment of our many different communities. Register here.
The City of Mississauga applauds all of the women in the organization and the community who #ChoosetoChallenge to make our great city even better.
City of Mississauga Media Relations
media@mississauga.ca
905-615-3200, ext. 5232
TTY: 905-896-5151