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MacDonald is a graduate of [[St. Francis Xavier University]] and received a [[Bachelor of Science]] in [[Physical Education]] while continuing to build a career as a professional musician. MacDonald has taught for the Strait Regional School Board, the Mi'kmawey school at Chapel Island, and pursued a Masters in Education.
MacDonald is a graduate of [[St. Francis Xavier University]] and received a [[Bachelor of Science]] in [[Physical Education]] while continuing to build a career as a professional musician. MacDonald has taught for the Strait Regional School Board, the Mi'kmawey school at Chapel Island, and pursued a Masters in Education.


In 1994, he married Lori-Ann Gillis.
In 1994, he married Lori-Ann Gillis. They are currently separated.


==Music career==
==Music career==

Revision as of 16:13, 9 January 2009

Rodney Joseph MacDonald
33rd Premier of Nova Scotia
Assumed office
February 22, 2006
Lieutenant GovernorMyra Freeman, Mayann E. Francis
Preceded byJohn Hamm
Personal details
Born (1972-01-02) January 2, 1972 (age 52)
Mabou, Nova Scotia
Political partyProgressive Conservative
SpouseLori-Ann MacDonald

Rodney Joseph MacDonald, MLA (born January 2, 1972) is a politician and educator and the current Premier of Nova Scotia, Canada.

Background

MacDonald is a graduate of St. Francis Xavier University and received a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education while continuing to build a career as a professional musician. MacDonald has taught for the Strait Regional School Board, the Mi'kmawey school at Chapel Island, and pursued a Masters in Education.

In 1994, he married Lori-Ann Gillis. They are currently separated.

Music career

MacDonald is an accomplished musician and has toured his fiddle music throughout Atlantic Canada, Central Canada and the northeastern United States. He is also an accomplished step dancer; he began dancing at age four after learning the skill from his parents. MacDonald's first public performance was reportedly at age eight at the Mayflower Shopping Mall in Sydney and he began taking fiddle lessons from his uncle, Kinnon Beaton, at age 12. MacDonald has recorded two albums - Dancer's Delight (1996) and Traditionally Rockin' (1997, with his cousin Glenn Graham) and he was also included on the 2004 Smithsonian release The Beaton Family of Mabou: Cape Breton Fiddle and Piano Music. In 1998 he received two nominations for the East Coast Music Awards. He was also vice-president of GlennRod Music Incorporated.

Political career

MacDonald has served in the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia since the 1999 provincial election, representing the riding of Inverness in western Cape Breton Island. He was re-elected in 2003 and has served in cabinet with various portfolios as Minister of Tourism, Culture & Heritage, Minister of Health Promotion and Minister of Immigration, he has also been responsible for the Heritage Property Act and was formerly responsible for the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation and the Nova Scotia Youth Secretariat.

Following Premier John Hamm's September, 2005 announcement of his intention to retire, MacDonald committed to running for the leadership of the Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative Party. The leadership race culminated in MacDonald winning the party's leadership on a second ballot on February 11, 2006. He was sworn in as Premier of Nova Scotia on February 24, succeeding Hamm. MacDonald is the second youngest premier in Nova Scotia's history, and is currently the second youngest premier in Canada.

MacDonald's Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative Party won a minority government in the 2006 general election.


Order of precedence
Preceded by
Mayann E. Francis, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia
Order of precedence in Nova Scotia
as of 2008
Succeeded by
J. Michael MacDonald, Chief Justice of Nova Scotia