Editing Andrea Horwath (section)

== Early life, education and early career ==
Andrea Lynn Horwath<ref>{{Cite web |last=Campbell |first=Meagan |date=2018-06-06 |title=How Andrea Horwath became the imperfect underdog |url=https://macleans.ca/politics/how-andrea-horwath-became-the-imperfect-underdog/ |access-date=2025-01-29 |website=Macleans.ca |language=en}}</ref> was born and raised in [[Stoney Creek, Ontario|Stoney Creek]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Craggs |first=Samantha |date=June 7, 2018 |title=Andrea Horwath's NDP to lead opposition in a 'very divided province' after Ontario election |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/andrea-horwath-1.4696602 |access-date=June 17, 2024 |work=[[CBC News]]}}</ref> She is [[Patronymic|named after her father]] Andrew, an ethnic [[Hungarian people|Hungarian]] who had immigrated to Canada from [[Slovakia]], and worked on the assembly line at the [[Ford Motor Company]] plant in [[Oakville, Ontario]]. Her mother, Diane, is of French and Irish descent.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Mehler Paperny |first=Anna |date=September 23, 2011 |title=For Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath, it's all about connecting |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/for-ontario-ndp-leader-andrea-horwath-its-all-about-connecting/article595464/ |access-date=November 11, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=April 12, 2013 |title=The game-changer: Horwath in the spotlight as budget battle looms |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/business/game+changer+Horwath+spotlight+budget+battle+looms/8235198/story.html |url-status=dead |access-date=February 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130616133838/http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/game+changer+Horwath+spotlight+budget+battle+looms/8235198/story.html |archive-date=June 16, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Talaga |first=Tanya |date=September 8, 2011 |title=Horwath gets support from her mom to kick off her campaign |language=en |work=thestar.com |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2011/09/08/horwath_gets_support_from_her_mom_to_kick_off_her_campaign.html |access-date=November 11, 2018}}</ref>

Horwath has a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree from [[McMaster University]]. While her initial program was in [[human resources]], she was drawn to [[Industrial relations|labour studies]]. She worked part-time as a waitress to pay her way through university. After graduating, Horwath worked in literacy training, legal-aid advocacy, and "community organization".<ref name=":0" />