Alexa McDonough

Birth Name: Alexa Ann Shaw

Date of Birth: August 11, 1944

Place of Birth: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Date of Death: January 15, 2022

Place of Death: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Ethnicity: English, Scottish, distant German

Alexa McDonough was a Canadian politician. She was Leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP), from October 14, 1995 to January 25, 2003. She was also a Leader of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party, from November 16, 1980 to November 19, 1994, and a Member of Parliament for Halifax (NS), from June 2, 1997 to October 14, 2008. Alexa was the second woman to lead the federal NDP, after Audrey McLaughlin.

Alexa was the daughter of Marjorie Jean (MacKinnon) and Lloyd Shaw (Lloyd Robert Shaw). Her father was a wealthy businessperson, political activist, and organizer, and a member of the Order of Canada, who held socialist and progressive beliefs. He served as the first research director for the federal NDP’s predecessor, the national Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), and was an early NDP financial backer.

Alexa’s mother was born in Medford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, to Canadian parents. Alexa’s ancestry included recent Scottish immigrants, and deep roots in Nova Scotia, going back to the 1780s. Many of her forebears were Colonial Americans (of largely English descent) who settled in Nova Scotia during the late 1700s, and had roots in Massachusetts and Rhode Island in particular.

Alexa had two children with her former husband, lawyer Peter McDonough.

Alexa’s paternal grandfather was Lloyd Ethelbert Shaw (the son of Robert Shaw and Mary Eliza Davison). Lloyd’s family owned L.E. Shaw, Ltd, who were brickmakers. He was born in Hantsport, Hants, Nova Scotia. Robert was the son of William Shaw and Margaret Davison. Mary was the daughter of Robert Davison and Mary Holmes.

Alexa’s paternal grandmother was Lillian Maud Morse (the daughter of David Jonathan Morse and Susan Amelia Fitz Randolph). Lillian was born in Bridgetown, Annapolis, Nova Scotia. David was the son of David Morse and Sarah Harriet Morse. Susan was the daughter of Samuel Rowland Fitz Randolph, whose father was born in Richmond, New York, U.S., and of Maria Ann Bishop.

Alexa’s maternal grandfather was Donald Lauchlin MacKinnon (the son of John Alexander MacKinnon and Catherine MacLean). Donald was born in East Lake Ainslie, Inverness, Nova Scotia. John was the son of Scottish parents, Alexander MacKinnon and Mary McKay, who were born on Isle of Muck. Catherine was the daughter of Scottish parents, Hector MacLean, who was born on Kilmory, Isle of Rum, and of Sarah McQuarrie, who was also born on Isle of Rum.

Alexa’s maternal grandmother was Winnifred Cruickshank (the daughter of James Angus Cruickshank and Mary Jane Creelman). Winnifred was born in Port Dufferin, Nova Scotia, Canada. James was the son of James Cruickshank, whose father was from Ayrshire, Scotland and whose mother was from Tyree and Coll, Argyll, Scotland; and of Nancy MacCarthy. Mary Jane was the daughter of Mayhew Tupper Creelman and Sophia Hall, whose father was born in Devonshire, England.