Callbeck retired from the Senate of Canada upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75.
On July 25, 2014 — her 75th birthday — Catherine Callbeck retired from the Senate of Canada, having reached the mandatory retirement age required of all Canadian senators under the Constitution Act, 1867.
Her retirement closed out a public service career spanning four decades, beginning with her election to the PEI Legislative Assembly in 1974 and continuing through her terms as a provincial cabinet minister, federal Member of Parliament, Premier of Prince Edward Island, and finally Senator. Few Canadian politicians, male or female, have matched the breadth and duration of her service across both provincial and federal levels of government.
Callbeck's retirement was widely covered by Canadian media as the conclusion of a historic career, with commentators reflecting on her status as the first woman in Canada to become an elected provincial premier. Even after leaving the Senate, she remained active in public life, later receiving further honours including appointment to the Order of Canada in 2015 and being named Chancellor Emerita of the University of Prince Edward Island in 2024, ensuring her legacy of service continued to be recognized well into her later years.