January 29

Edward Harkness (1874–1940) was an American philanthropist and heir to the Standard Oil fortune, famous for his transformative gifts to education and culture. He endowed residential colleges at Yale and Harvard, funded the Harkness method in classrooms, and supported Columbia University's core curriculum. Harkness financed the restoration and expansion of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and donated major art collections to museums nationwide. He created the Commonwealth Fund to advance health care and established Harkness Fellowships for international scholars. His visionary philanthropy reshaped American institutions and left a lasting legacy in education, the arts, and healthcare.

Hazel McCallion was a pioneering Canadian politician who served as the fifth mayor of Mississauga for 36 years, from 1978 to 2014, earning the nickname 'Hurricane Hazel'. Before entering politics, she had a successful career in business and community service. Under her leadership, Mississauga evolved from a suburban town into one of Canada's largest cities, with major developments in infrastructure and public services. She was known for her fiscally prudent management style and hands-on approach to governance. McCallion received numerous honors for her civic contributions and remained active in public life well into her later years.