Get it done. Hazel McCallion’s Enduring Legacy for Canadian Entrepreneurs and Innovators

I recall Hazel saying at our official launch event in June 2008, “Innovation and commercialization are key drivers to strengthen the economy. Businesses and communities that invest in innovation, and support commercialization, present the communities with the best quality of life.”

Canada has long topped U.S. News & World Report “quality of life” rankings and “countries where people would most like to live” lists for years, and in 2022 was cited for its “high-tech industrial society with a high standard of living.” Hazel had a vision of where Mississauga, Brampton, and our surrounding communities in the Peel Region could be in the future if we focused in this area and helped build the foundations for Ontario’s current trajectory of economic development.

And today, nearly 15 years after we began, Altitude Accelerator has helped local entrepreneurs raise nearly $1B in funding, generate $530M in revenue, and create almost 3,000 new jobs – in industries ranging from advanced manufacturing to medtech to cleantech. We have robust programs ranging from a sales and marketing incubator to investor readiness, legal and IP bootcamps, and financial advisory services. Our roster of 50+ industry advisors include some of the most successful entrepreneurs in Canada.

Hazel’s enduring legacy for us is that she helped Ontario forge a path to prioritize entrepreneurship and commercialization in our communities that has made a real, quantifiable impact that will be felt by generations to come – not just in Canada, but across the globe.

We are proud to be a partner of the City of Mississauga, and we are excited to see the innovation agenda continue to grow exponentially under the leadership of Mayor Bonnie Crombie with the launch of IDEA at Square One.

If you would like to learn more about Altitude Accelerator, if you’re an entrepreneur looking for mentorship, or an advisor looking to help tomorrow’s leaders forge their own path, we’d love for you to join us.