Hazel McCallion was elected mayor of Mississauga, Ontario, in 1978 and has been mayor there ever since. The citizens of Canada’s sixth largest city have re-elected her 10 straight times. After listening to her speak, you’ll understand why.

She is a no-nonsense, honest to a fault, old-school leader. She refuses to play “politics” and has an uncanny ability to cut through delays to get things done in a timely manner. During her tenure, the city’s population has risen from 260,000 to 740,000, and the city is debt free.

Oh, did we mention that she is 88 years old? She’s a former pro hockey player, so you know she’s tough. To this day, she still keeps her skates in the trunk of her car in case the opportunity arises.

She’s proof that relevance, drive, intelligence and wit do not diminish.