1. Rodney Joseph MacDonald was born on January 2,1972 and is a Canadian politician, educator and musician who served as the 26th premier of Nova Scotia from 2006 to 2009 and as MLA for the riding of Inverness in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1999 to 2009.
Rodney MacDonald graduated from Mabou Consolidated School in 1990 and from St Francis Xavier University in 1994, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education with a minor in English and a Nova Scotia Teaching Licence.
Rodney MacDonald was employed as a senior high teacher with the Strait Regional School Board and was actively engaged in many community groups.
Rodney MacDonald has toured his fiddle music throughout Atlantic Canada, Central Canada and the northeastern United States.
Rodney MacDonald is an accomplished step dancer; he began dancing at age four after learning the skill from his parents.
Rodney MacDonald has recorded two albums to date: Dancer's Delight and Traditionally Rockin'.
Rodney MacDonald was included on the 2004 Smithsonian release The Beaton Family of Mabou: Cape Breton Fiddle and Piano Music and numerous other compilations.
Rodney MacDonald was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia in the 1999 provincial election, representing the riding of Inverness in western Cape Breton Island.
Rodney MacDonald was responsible for the Heritage Property Act, Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation Act, and the Nova Scotia Youth Secretariat.
The leadership race culminated in Rodney MacDonald winning the party's leadership on a second ballot on February 11,2006.
Rodney MacDonald is the second youngest premier in Nova Scotia's history.
In May 2006, after a short session, Rodney MacDonald dissolved the legislature, calling an election for June 13,2006.
On May 4,2009, Rodney MacDonald's government lost a confidence vote; as a result, a provincial election was called for June 9,2009 to elect the next government.
Rodney MacDonald stepped down as Nova Scotia PC Leader on June 24,2009.
Rodney MacDonald announced on August 5,2009 that he would be resigning his seat in the legislature before the fall session began.
In June 2010, Rodney MacDonald was appointed to the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board.
In September 2011, Rodney MacDonald was named CEO of The Gaelic College in St Anns.
Rodney MacDonald created a Cape Breton Island-wide festival, "KitchenFest", which annually features more than 70 shows and more than 100 musicians.
Additionally, in 2022, Rodney MacDonald faced scrutiny when he began lobbying the current Progressive Conservative provincial government, on behalf of Cabot Group as a community liaison, to lease one-third of the 215 hectares of land belonging to West Mabou Provincial Park to develop the company's third golf course.