Canada’s longest serving mayor was celebrated Saturday night at a retirement gala in Mississauga.

Hazel McCallion is leaving office after 36 years. The 93-year old says she’s not retiring. She says she’s just stepping down from her job as mayor, and she plans to write her memoirs.

McCallion has held the top job in the southern Ontario city since 1978. During two of those elections she ran unopposed.

Voters have since returned her to office 12 times.

Her would-be successors Councillor Bonnie Crombie and former city councillor Steve Mahoney, appear to be in a dead heat going into the October 27th election.

McCallion’s advice to Mississauga’s next mayor? “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”