Former federal leader and Nova Scotia NDP leader Alexa McDonough has died at the age of 77, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
McDonough was the first woman to lead a major political party in the country, leading the Nova Scotia NDP from 1980 to 1994, and then the federal NDP from 1997 to 2002.
Known simply as “Alexa”, she is credited with laying the groundwork for Nova Scotia’s Dexter NDP government in 2009 and Jack Layton’s “Orange Wave” in 2011.
McDonough’s obituary published Saturday described her as “a loved, respected and significant person in Canadian life.”
His career began in social work as assistant to the director of the Halifax City Department of Social Planning in 1969. He later served as a faculty member at Dalhousie University’s Maritime School of Social Work, before moving on to politics.
“Over the years, he has earned numerous honors, including the Order of Canada, the Order of Nova Scotia, and four honorary university degrees,” his obituary read.
“He even had nicknames: the ‘Iron Angel’, the ‘Greatest Premier Nova Scotia Never Had’, ‘Our Lady of Shock and Horror’.
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The obituary highlighted his efforts in humanity, including his support for Donald Marshall, Jr. “in his fight to clear his name for a murder he did not commit; for the widows and families of the victims of the Westray mining disaster as they, and she, fought for legislation to prevent similar tragedies in the future.”
He also described her as a “relentless optimist” and “wickedly, self-deprecatingly funny”.
Nova Scotia NDP leader Gary Burrill said in his statement Saturday that the party’s record-breaking gender diversity is testament to McDonough’s legacy.
“No one has had such a defining mentoring influence on generations of women in Nova Scotia,” Burrill said.
“To this day…people will tell me, while campaigning in the Halifax Chebucto, about the moment they met Alexa and what that conversation meant to them.”
He wrote: “Alexa loved people, and people loved her too.”
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The current federal NDP leader, Jagmeet Singh, took to Twitter to express his condolences.
“We will miss her very much. Rest in power,” he wrote.
Those who wish to honor McDonough’s memory, the obituary said, can donate to a local charity, “or to any of the many good causes close to Alexa’s heart.”
As stated, these include:
“No gifts, flowers, or cards are permitted at the request of the family,” the obituary read, adding that due to COVID-19, a celebration of McDonough’s life will be held at a later date.
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