Eileen O'Connell (July 5, 1947 – September 27, 2000) was a

Canadian Canadians () are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of their being ''C ...

politician A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the people, make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles ...

who served as the Member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly for Halifax Fairview from 1996 until her death in 2000 from

breast cancer Breast cancer is a cancer that develops from breast tissue. Signs of breast cancer may include a Breast lump, lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, Milk-rejection sign, milk rejection, fluid coming from the nipp ...

. She belonged to the New Democratic Party. O'Connell was born in 1947 in

Halifax, Nova Scotia Halifax is the capital and most populous municipality of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Nova Scotia, and the most populous municipality in Atlantic Canada. As of 2024, it is estimated that the population of the H ...

, and raised in Antigonish. A graduate of St. Francis Xavier University, O'Connell attended both Dalhousie and St. Mary's Universities, where she earned a degree in Education. She taught at Halifax West High School for 14 years, and then at Cornwallis Junior High School. She was a founding member of the Association for Media Literacy, a board member of the Planned Parenthood Metro Clinic, and a chair of the Halifax Association for Community Living's Flowers of Hope Campaign.

Political life

O'Connell held various positions with the New Democratic Party before becoming an MLA. She first ran in the 1984 and 1988 elections in the constituency of Halifax Citadel but was unsuccessful. In the 1993 election, she made a third unsuccessful run at a seat, this time in the riding of

Halifax Chebucto Halifax Chebucto is a provincial electoral district (Canada), electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. It is one of several ridings within the Halifax Regional Municipality. It encom ...

, losing a close race to Liberal

Jay Abbass Jay Abbass (born 1957) is a lawyer, businessman, former stockbroker and former political figure in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented Halifax Chebucto in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1993 to 1998 as a Liberal member. Early life He w ...

. O'Connell ran successfully in the 1996 Halifax Fairview by-election prompted by the resignation of Alexa McDonough. She gained the seat with 65.24% of the vote. She was sworn-in as MLA on July 8, 1996. O'Connell's first day in the House of Assembly was November 18, 1996. O'Connelll retained the seat in

1998 1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''. Events January * January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for Lunar water, frozen water, in soil i ...

(53.8%) and

1999 1999 was designated as the International Year of Older Persons. Events January * January 1 – The euro currency is established and the European Central Bank assumes its full powers. * January 3 – The Mars Polar Lander is launc ...

(46.23%). During her tenure as MLA, O'Connell served as Education Critic, Environment Critic, Natural Resources Critic and Forestry Critic for the NDP caucus. She also served on the Human Resources Subcommittee, Standing Committee on Resources, Public Accounts Committee, the Standing Committee on Veteran's Affairs, and the Select Committee on National Unity. At the Nova Scotia NDP Leadership convention in July 2000, she was a member of Helen MacDonald's team, and helped her win the leadership of the Nova Scotia NDP. Shortly after the 1998 election, O'Connell was diagnosed with breast cancer. She continued to serve as MLA until her death on September 27, 2000.

Legacy

A memorial bursary in her name is awarded to a Halifax West High School student and to a J. L. Ilsley High School student each year.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oconnell, Eileen 1947 births 2000 deaths Deaths from breast cancer in Canada Canadian people of Irish descent Nova Scotia New Democratic Party MLAs Politicians from Halifax, Nova Scotia Women MLAs in Nova Scotia Deaths from cancer in Nova Scotia St. Francis Xavier University alumni Saint Mary's University (Halifax) alumni 20th-century Canadian women politicians 20th-century members of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly