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`Hockey' gift takes Hazel McCallion back in time by Julia Le Oakville Beaver Staff 7 | Friday, January 29, 2016 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com She may be 95, but former Mississauga mayor Hazel McCallion says you're only as old as you feel. "I think I'm 59," McCallion told guests at the The Kensington retirement residence Tuesday (Jan. 26) as she shared her insights about the challenges of aging in today's society -- and how to live life to its fullest. Two years into her retirement, McCallion proved she is still able to draw a crowd as her Oakville fans showed up to hear her speak. McCallion spoke in her new role as the chief elder officer of Revera, which runs several retirement homes, including The Kensington Oakville, Trafalgar Lodge Retirement Residence and Churchill Place in Oakville. The retired politician drew laughter from her audience as she shared anecdotes that included how she enjoys people's reactions when she says she's Revera's CEO -- chief elder officer. McCallion was appointed to the role late last year, and provides advice and counsel to Revera, by engaging those served by the company in open dialogue about their experiences. Wearing one of her signature blazers, McCallion said she spent most of her career building a city and is now helping Revera with a special program for its clients. Sharing snippets of her life, McCallion, who retired as Mississauga's mayor in 2014, said she Former Mississauga mayor Hazel McCallion, now Chief Elder Officer for Revera retirement homes, was in town Tuesday to speak about the challenges of aging in today's society and how to live life to the fullest. Pictured, McCallion shares a laugh as long-time Oakville resident Jim Gibb presents an old-time hockey `gift' to McCallion. | photo by Justin Greaves ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) was a child when the Great Depression hit and she left home at age 14. She eventually moved to Toronto working for Kellogg Canada before entering politics. "They say I swam up the St. Lawrence River, but I was transferred by the company," she joked. Adopting a serious tone, she admitted she now wonders how she survived on her own after leaving home at such a young age. "I couldn't phone home for money, I couldn't go home and raid the refrigerator like kids do today," she said. "I look back on life as a real challenge, but you know what? The challenges and changes that occur make us better people," McCallion said. How you handle the challenges, setbacks and unfortunate turns in life, is an important factor in one's outlook on life, she advised. "Do you approach it with a negative attitude or positive attitude and as we get to the point in life where we have to give up our home because we're not physically able to cope with it, then we have to look forward. There's another step in that journey, another section of that journey we have to face." McCallion, who still lives in her own Mississauga home, said she's enjoying aging. "You can be old at 50 or young at 95. That's a choice -- a choice you make and it's so important that we look at life as a journey and that it's a wonderful experience," she said. McCallion credits her positive outlook to being physically and mentally active. Contributing to the community has also provided her purpose. The former mayor said she woke up every morning until she retired, excited about going to Mississauga's city hall and thrilled to find solutions to problems, help people and move projects forward. "We all have that opportunity to make the world a better place," she said. "Life is a journey and it's not what you take with you when you go -- it's what you leave behind," she said. see You're on p.8 winter SPeCiALS!