It is truly shocking to have received the news that Basil "Buzz" Hargrove passed away on June 15, 2025, at the age of 81. For many in Canada, especially for workers, Hargrove represented strength, kindness, and a genuine sense of fairness. He was not a powerful executive whose decisions came from a boardroom. He was one of us. He walked the factory floor, listened to the workers, and presented himself well in negotiating rooms. He advocated for healthcare, pensions, and for fairness in society. It is hard to believe that Canada just lost someone that stood up for exactly what most of us wish all politicians would represent: care, respect, and dignity for every working person.
Why I Feel So Close — Stories That Feel Sentimental
Buzz began his career on the assembly line at Chrysler in Windsor. From installing cushion seats to leading the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) from 1992 to 2008, I can only imagine being the individual responsible for the decent wages for hundreds of thousands of workers and negotiating with primarliy older white executives in factories and boardrooms. I think what resonated with me was how Buzz always retained his connection to share upon all of that opportunity. He regularly talked about being one of ten kids in New Brunswick, where you learned to share and care in addition to fight when necessary. That voice never left him, even when he became a national leader. He always proclaimed that he "wouldn't sit in a rocking chair," and he didn't — he advocated for public healthcare, fair trade and living pensions. More leaders should have that type of fight, you know?
Yet here is something they don't fully articulate. After he left CAW in 2008, he didn't just drift off into the sunset. He went right to the NHL Players' Association, then were an ombudsman, then even taught at Toronto Metropolitan University. He was 81 years old and still teaching, caring, and fighting for change. That tells you his heart didn't stop. He was there explaining concepts to students, creating the next generation. This is something people will never know and deserve to know.
The Real Feelings Today — Voices From the Community
Words like “giant” and “tireless advocate” are common in statements, but the real emotion was in reactions online. On twitter many have mourn for buzz hargrove:
We mourn the passing of Brother Buzz Hargrove — a proud Local 444 member who rose to lead the CAW and shape Canada’s labour movement. A fearless voice for working people, his legacy of justice and solidarity will never be forgotten
— Local 444 Unifor (@LOCAL444UNIFOR) June 15, 2025
Rest in power, Buzz. ✊#Local444 #BuzzHargrove pic.twitter.com/8YQIbPM9tb
Former Canadian Auto Workers president Basil (Buzz) Hargrove has died.😞
— Lorena Simonis (@Lorena_Simonis) June 16, 2025
More information:https://t.co/1oOU5DXrLU#canada #buzz #formerperesident #died#Toronto #albatra pic.twitter.com/cqwGGEgKth
What Makes His Story Matter Today More Than Ever
Advocating for Social Unionism
Buzz thought that unions could be more than negotiators for wages. He supported public healthcare initiatives, advocated for retirement security, and applauded equity movements. That also crosses from "union stuff" to what involves everyday Canadians.
Young Leadership and Mentoring
Buzz's supporters will tell you that he played a mentoring role with newer labour leaders; helping them shape Unifor collectively after the Canadian Auto Workers merged and formed a new union with CEP (Canadian Energy and Paperworkers Union) in 2013. he believed in giving leaders tools and hope; that it is not just about giving advice or rhetoric - it was important to teach leaders how to build a movement.
Connecting Sports and Labour
His time with NHL Players' Association was outside the norm. You don't usually see labour leaders moving towards a sports players' rights. But he did - and that demonstrated his perspective that fairness translates everywhere in society whether it was in factories or in locker-rooms. It is not common knowledge, but that is an important advancement.
Lifetime Educator
After all of that and still making headlines he was still making time on university hallways at TMU teaching students who would be the next business and labour thought leaders. That is more than selling an idea - that was investing in change.
So What Was Buzz Really Like—Beyond the Headlines?
He wasn't perfect—few are. He once urged workers to consider voting tactics, even telling them to vote Liberal if it beat Conservatives, which upset some NDP folks . But that showed he was thinking things through, not just following a party line. Some might say that isn’t loyalty—it shows he cared about results, outcomes for real people.
And honestly, that tension makes him feel more human, not less. He wasn't afraid to speak out, even if it ruffled feathers. He left a legacy of bold choices, honest debate, and fighting hard for people at all levels.
Quick Facts About Buzz’s Impact
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Rose from factory floor to head of Canada’s biggest private-sector union (CAW)
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Led negotiations with GM, Ford, Chrysler, Air Canada, CN Rail
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Fought for healthcare, pensions, fair trade, equity
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Received Officer of the Order of Canada in 2008
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Served NHLPA as advisor and ombudsman, then taught at TMU
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Nationally recognized mentor and social unionist
Looking Ahead: Remembering Buzz Through Action
There’ll be a celebration of life soon—Unifor said details are coming. But it doesn’t have to stop there. People who believe in his values—fairness, courage, care—can honor him by speaking up, joining causes, supporting workers in everyday life. His story is more than news. It’s a call to keep pushing for better communities.
