Leah Gazan


Leah Gazan is a Canadian politician who was elected to represent the riding of Winnipeg Centre in the House of Commons of Canada in the 2019 Canadian federal election.

Early Life

Leah Gazan was born in the Wood Mountain Lakota First Nation in Saskatchewan to Albert and Marjorie Gazan. Gazan is Lakota-Chinese on her mother's side, and Jewish on her father's side. Gazan's father, Albert Gazan, is a Holocaust survivor from the Netherlands, born in The Hague in 1938.
Gazan previously taught at the University of Winnipeg prior to running in the 2019 election. She also served as president for the Social Planning council of Winnipeg. Gazan participated in Idle No More, and pushed for Bill C-262 to be passed by the House of Commons. She also represented the province of Manitoba for the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues advocating for acknowledgement of injustice perpetuated against Indigenous Canadian adoptive children.

Political career

Gazan identifies as a socialist, like her parents. In 2019, Gazan defeated incumbent Robert-Falcon Ouellette, another indigenous candidate, for the seat of Winnipeg Centre retaking the district for the NDP.

Electoral record