Audrey McLaughlin

The Honourable Audrey McLaughlin was the Federal Member of Parliament for the Yukon from 1987 to 1997. She served as Leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada from 1989 to 1995, the first woman elected to lead a federal party in Canada. She retired from electoral politics in 1997.

Before entering politics, Audrey had careers as a farmer, social worker, professor, small business operator and community worker. She holds a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Toronto, an honorary doctorate from the same university, and honorary degrees from five other Canadian universities. In addition to numerous articles her book “A Woman’s Place: My Life and Politics” was published in 1992.

Ms. Mclaughlin has a long history of international involvement that began with teaching in Ghana from 1964 to 1967. She has since worked in over 20 countries in roles such as trainer and election observer with the National Democratic Institute, and with other international organizations.

Audrey is a grandmother and great grandmother who lives in Whitehorse, Yukon.

She is current Chair of Grandmothers to Grandmothers Yukon, part of the Stephen Lewis Foundation, and a member of the Canadian Commission on the Pandemic and Education at the University of Toronto.

I am honoured to be part of this accomplished group of women, and I honour the thousands of unrecognized women world-wide who struggle each day with courage and passion and make their impact.