Alexa McDonough

Alexa McDonough OC ONS
McDonough in 2008
Leader of the New Democratic Party
In office October 14, 1995 – January 25, 2003
Preceded by	Audrey McLaughlin
Succeeded by	Jack Layton
Member of Parliament for Halifax
In office June 2, 1997 – October 14, 2008
Preceded by	Mary Clancy
Succeeded by	Megan Leslie
Leader of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party
In office November 16, 1980 – November 19, 1994
Preceded by	Buddy MacEachern
Succeeded by	John Holm
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia
In office May 25, 1993 – October 20, 1995
Preceded by	Constituency established
Succeeded by	Eileen O'Connell
Constituency	Halifax Fairview
In office October 6, 1981 – May 25, 1993
Preceded by	Walter Fitzgerald
Succeeded by	Jay Abbass
Constituency	Halifax Chebucto
Personal details
Born	Alexa Ann Shaw (1944-08-11)August 11, 1944 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Died	January 15, 2022(2022-01-15) (aged 77) Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Political party	New Democratic (from 1974)
Other political affiliations	Liberal (1970–1974)
Spouse	Peter McDonough ​ ​ (m. 1966; div. 1993)​
Domestic partner	David MacDonald (1997–2004)
Children	2
Parents	Lloyd R. Shaw (father) Jean MacKinnon (mother)
Alma mater	Dalhousie University (BA)
Profession	Politician social worker

Alexa Ann McDonough OC ONS (née Shaw; August 11, 1944 – January 15, 2022) was a Canadian politician who became the first woman to lead a major, recognized political party in Nova Scotia, when she was elected the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party's (NSNDP) leader in 1980.

McDonough served as a member of the Nova Scotia Legislature from 1981 to 1994, representing the Halifax Chebucto and Halifax Fairview electoral districts. She stepped down as the NSNDP's leader and as a member of the legislature in 1994. She subsequently ran for, and was elected, leader of the federal New Democratic Party (NDP) in 1995. McDonough was elected the Member of Parliament (MP) for the federal electoral district of Halifax in 1997. She stepped down as party leader in 2003, but continued to serve as an MP for two more terms, until 2008, when she retired from politics altogether. In 2009, she became the interim president of Mount Saint Vincent University and was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in December of that year.