Eileen O'Connell (Nova Scotia politician)
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Eileen O'Connell was a Canadian politician who served as a New Democratic Party member of the Nova Scotia Legislature for the constituency of Halifax Fairview from 1996 until her death in 2000.
Eileen was born in 1947 and grew up in Antigonish, Nova Scotia.
She was a graduate of St. Francis Xavier University, and attended both Dalhousie and St. Mary's Universities, where she earned a degree in Education.
Eileen 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.
[edit] Political Life
Eileen held various positions with the New Democratic Party before becoming an MLA. She first ran in 1984 and 1988 elections in the constituency of Halifax Citadel but was unsuccessful.
After the electoral boundaries changed, Eileen ran in the 1996 by-election in in Halifax Fairview where she was elected with 45.5% of the vote. She was re-elected in 1998 and 1999. While MLA, Eileen served as Education Critic, Environment Critic, Natural Resources Critic and Forestry Critic for the NDP caucus. She also served on the Human Resources Subcomittee, Standing Committe on Resources, Public Accounts Committee, the Standing Committee on Veteran's Affairs, and the Select Committee on National Unity. Much of her work on these committees is still evident in the Nova Scotia Legislature's Hansard.
At the Nova Scotia NDP Leadership convention in July 2000, Eileen was a member of Helen MacDonald's team, and helped her win the leadership of the Nova Scotia NDP.
After the 1998 election Eileen was diagnosed with breast cancer. She continued to serve as MLA until her death on September 27, 2000.
A memorial bursary in Eileen's name is awarded to a Halifax West High School student and to a J.L. Ilsley High School student each year.
