Alexa McDonough, the trail-blazing politician who paved the way for women in the field, has died. She was 77.聽
News of her death was confirmed through a statement issued by her family, who says McDonough had been living with Alzheimer's for several years.聽
McDonough became the first female leader of a recognized Canadian political party when she took the helm of the Nova Scotia New Democrats in 1980.
She held the post for 14 years before eventually taking the reins of the federal party from 1997 to 2002.
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The Canadian Press
