Victoria City was one of the first twelve provincial electoral districts in the province of British Columbia , Canada , upon its entry into Confederation that year. It was originally a four-member riding, and elected to the Legislature several prominent members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and premiers . It last appeared on the hustings in the 1963 election .
Electoral history [ ]
Note: Winners in each election are in bold .
British Columbia Byelection: Victoria City January 11, 18732
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±
Expenditures
Independent
Robert Beaven
Acclaimed
-.- %
unknown
Total valid votes
n/a
-.- %
Total rejected ballots
Turnout
%
² The byelection was called due to Beaven's resignation upon appointment to the Executive Council (cabinet) on December 23, 1872. This byelection was one of a series held to confirm appointments to the Executive Council, which was the old parliamentary convention. As this byelection writ was filled by acclamation, no polling day was required and the seat was filled within two weeks. The stated date is the date the return of writs was received by the Chief Electoral Officer.
British Columbia Byelection: Victoria City February 22, 18764
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±
Expenditures
Opposition
Simeon Duck
282
38.79%
–
unknown
Government
Andrew Charles Elliott
445
61.21%
–
unknown
Total valid votes
727
100.00%
Total rejected ballots
Turnout
%
4 The byelection was called following Elliott's resignation upon appointment to the Executive Council (cabinet) on February 1, 1876.
British Columbia Byelection: Victoria City July 10, 18785
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±
Expenditures
Independent
Robert Beaven
Acclaimed
-.- %
unknown
Total valid votes
n/a
-.- %
Total rejected ballots
Turnout
%
5 The byelection was called due to Beaven's resignation upon his appointment to Executive Council June 26, 1878 This byelection was one of a series held to confirm appointments to the Executive Council, which was the old parliamentary convention. As this byelection writ was filled by acclamation, no polling day was required and the seat was filled within two weeks. The stated date is the date the return of writs was received by the Chief Electoral Officer.
British Columbia Byelection: Victoria City April 15, 18857
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±
Expenditures
Government
Simeon Duck
281
50.63%
–
unknown
Opposition
Robert Taylor Williams
274
49.37%
–
unknown
Total valid votes
555
100.00%
Total rejected ballots
Turnout
%
7 The byelection was called due to the resignation of Simeon Duck upon his appointment to the Executive Council March 21, 1885.
In 1902, premier Edward Gawler Prior won a seat in a by-election.
10th British Columbia election, 1903
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±
Expenditures
Liberal
William George Cameron
1,860
14.54%
unknown
Liberal
Richard Low Drury
1,744
13.63%
unknown
Liberal
Richard Hall
1,554
12.14%
unknown
Conservative
Charles Hayward
1,396
10.91%
unknown
Conservative
Henry Dallas Helmcken
1,342
10.49%
unknown
Conservative
Joseph Hunter
1,223
9.56%
unknown
Liberal
James Dugald McNiven
1,627
12.71%
unknown
Conservative
Albert Edward McPhillips
1,352
10.57%
unknown
Socialist
James Cameron Watters
697
5.45%
–
unknown
Total valid votes
12,795
100.00%
Total rejected ballots
Turnout
%
11th British Columbia election, 1907
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±
Expenditures
Conservative
Henry Frederick William Behnsen
1,477
11.77%
unknown
Liberal
William George Cameron
1,164
9.28%
unknown
Conservative
Frederick Davey
1,497
11.93%
unknown
Liberal
Richard Low Drury
1,192
9.50%
unknown
Canadian Labour Party of BC
Ernest Amos Hall
863
6.88%
unknown
Liberal
Richard Hall
1,089
8.68%
unknown
Canadian Labour Party of BC
Arngrimur Johnson
437
3.47%
unknown
Canadian Labour Party of BC
William Herbert Marcon
366
2.92%
unknown
Conservative
Richard McBride 12
1,614
12.86%
unknown
Liberal
James Dugald McNiven
1,029
8.20%
unknown
Conservative
Henry Broughton Thomson
1,377
10.97%
unknown
Socialist
James Cameron Watters
443
3.53%
–
unknown
Total valid votes
12,548
100.00%
Total rejected ballots
Turnout
%
12 Sixteenth Premier of British Columbia .
12th British Columbia election, 1909
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±
Expenditures
Conservative
Henry Frederick William Behnsen
2,497
12.92%
unknown
Conservative
Frederick Davey
2,053
12.96%
unknown
Liberal
Richard Low Drury
2,031
10.51%
unknown
Liberal
William Kyle Houston
1,875
9.71%
unknown
Conservative
Richard McBride
2,846
14.78%
unknown
Independent
Alfred James Morley 13
2,218
11.48%
unknown
Socialist
George Oliver
659
3.41%
–
unknown
Liberal
John Oliver 14
2,216
11.47%
unknown
Conservative
Henry Broughton Thomson
2,465
12.76%
unknown
Total valid votes
19,320
100.00%
Total rejected ballots
Turnout
%
13 Endorsed by Liberals.
14 Later 19th Premier of BC 1918-1927.
14th British Columbia election, 1916
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±
Expenditures
Liberal
George Bell
3,963
12.89%
unknown
Liberal
Harlan Carey Brewster
4,988
16.22%
unknown
Conservative
John Dilworth
2,651
8.62%
unknown
Independent Liberal
Ernest Amos Hall
1,518
4.94%
unknown
Liberal
Henry Charles Hall
3,161
10.28%
unknown
Liberal
John Hart
3,660
11.90%
unknown
Conservative
Reginald Hayward
2,793
9.08%
unknown
Independent
Alfred James Morley
1,185
3.85%
unknown
Social Democratic
Daniel William Poupard
454
1.48%
Social Democratic
Philip Robert Smith
475
1.54%
Conservative
Alexander Stewart
3,129
10.18%
unknown
Conservative
Leonard Tait
2,774
9.02%
unknown
Total valid votes
30,751
100.00%
Total rejected ballots
Turnout
%
1920 British Columbia general election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Elected
Liberal
John Oliver 18
6,498
12.05
Y
Conservative
Joshua Hinchcliffe
5,305
9.84
Y
Liberal
John Hart
5,016
9.30
Y
Liberal
Joseph Badenoch Clearihue
4,551
8.44
Y
Conservative
Alexander Stewart
4,170
7.73
Conservative
William Walter Northcott
4,141
7.68
Social Democrat
Roderick Ross Sutherland
4,072
7.55
Independent
Ernest Amos Hall
4,010
7.43
Liberal
Henry Charles Hall
3,868
7.17
Independent Liberal
George Bell
2,045
3.79
Soldier–Labour
Cecil Keir Christian 16
1,716
3.18
Soldier–Labour
James Dakers 16
1,318
2.44
Soldier–Labour
Robert Paton McLernan
1,202
2.33
Federated Labour
William Edouard Peirce
834
1.55
Soldier–Labour
Francis William Henry Giolma 17
778
1.44
Independent
Herbert Wynn Davies
475
0.88
Total valid votes
53,936
100.00
16 Nominated by GAUV for joint Soldier-Labour ticket.
17 Nominated by Victoria Trades and Labour Council for joint Soldier-Labour ticket.
18 Premier of BC since 1918
16th British Columbia election, 1924
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±
Expenditures
Liberal
Joseph Badenoch Clearihue
3,498
6.77%
unknown
Liberal
Samuel James Drake
3,527
6.83%
unknown
Canadian Labour Party
Mary Gertrude Graves
1,056
2.04%
unknown
Canadian Labour Party
James Hurst Hawthornthwaite
821
1.59%
unknown
Conservative
Reginald Hayward
6,127
11.86%
unknown
Conservative
Joshua Hinchcliffe
6,118
11.84%
unknown
Conservative
Robert Allan Gus Lyons
5,120
9.91%
unknown
Independent
Christopher Roland North
1,715
3.32%
unknown
Liberal
John Oliver
4,032
7.80%
unknown
Canadian Labour Party
William Edouard Peirce
763
1.48%
unknown
Liberal
Melbourne Raynor
4,138
8.01%
unknown
Provincial
Alexander Gordon Smith
2,175
4.21%
–
unknown
Provincial
Albert Edward Todd
2,379
4.60%
–
unknown
Conservative
Harold Despard Twigg
5,710
11.05%
unknown
Provincial
Eugene Sidney Woodward
2,477
4.79%
–
unknown
Provincial
Andrew Wright
2,019
3.91%
–
unknown
Total valid votes
51,675
100.00%
Total rejected ballots
Turnout
%
17th British Columbia election, 1928
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±
Expenditures
Conservative
James Harry Beatty
7,505
13.06%
unknown
Liberal
Robert Alexander C. Dewar
6,180
10.76%
unknown
Liberal
Mark Willson Graham
6,025
10.49%
unknown
Conservative
Reginald Hayward
7,754
13.50%
unknown
Conservative
Joshua Hinchcliffe
7,614
13.25%
unknown
Independent Labour
Walter Inward
316
0.55%
Independent Conservative
Alice Emily McGregor
349
0.61%
Liberal
John Duncan MacLean
6,672
11.61%
Independent Conservative
Robert Pope Matheson
715
1.24%
Independent
Christopher Rowland North
894
1.56%
unknown
Liberal
William Thomas Straith
6,201
10.79%
unknown
Conservative
Harold Despard Twigg
5,710
11.05%
unknown
Total valid votes
57,457
100.00%
Total rejected ballots
251
Turnout
%
18th British Columbia election, 1933 19
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±
Expenditures
Independent
Herbert Anscomb
5,767
8.83%
unknown
Unionist
James Sutherland Brown
1,312
2.01%
Co-operative Commonwealth Fed.
William Baxter Caird
2,528
3.87%
Independent Conservative
Robert Cassidy
323
0.49%
Liberal
Joseph Badenoch Clearihue
5,551
8.50%
unknown
Co-operative Commonwealth Fed.
Robert Connell
5,607
8.58%
unknown
Unionist
Frederick James Crowhurst
594
0.91%
Independents
Clem Davies
5,259
8.05%
unknown
Unionist
Herbert Tom Goodland
910
1.39%
Liberal
John Hart
6,133
9.39%
unknown
Conservative
Reginald Hayward
3,812
5.84%
unknown
Liberal
Byron Ingemar Johnson
7,774
11.85%
unknown
Liberal
William Hamilton Kinsman
4,962
7.60%
unknown
Independent
Andrew McGavin
1,054
1.61%
unknown
Independent
Agnes Helen Mason
107
0.16%
unknown
Co-operative Commonwealth Fed.
Victor Rainsford Midgley
2,892
4.43%
unknown
United Front (Workers and Farmers)
Thomas Moir
95
0.15%
Independent Conservative
William Charles Moresby
2,796
4.28%
Independent
Christopher Rowland North
412
0.63%
unknown
Labour Party
John Harry Owen
503
0.77%
unknown
Co-operative Commonwealth Fed.
Thomas Guy Sheppard
4,111
6.29%
unknown
Independent
Patrick John Paterson Sinnott
1,557
2.38%
unknown
Independent
Robert Taylor Williams
1,257
1.92%
unknown
Total valid votes
65,316
100.00%
Total rejected ballots
185
Turnout
%
19 In addition to William John Bowser (NPIG), the List of Candidates contains five other candidates who did not run on the amended polling day (see note 2): Charles Randall Bishop (NPIG), Joshua Hinchliffe (UPBC), Walter Luney (NPIG), George McGregor (NPIG) and Lorne Ross (IND.).
19th British Columbia election, 1937
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±
Expenditures
Independent
Herbert Anscomb
6,927
10.50%
unknown
Co-operative Commonwealth Fed.
Kathleen Anderson Bell
2,362
3.58%
unknown
Co-operative Commonwealth Fed.
William Baxter Caird
2,343
3.55%
unknown
BC Constructivist Party
Robert Connell
2,540
3.85%
unknown
Social Credit League
Percival Edward George
401
0.61%
Social Constructive
Margaret ("Madge") Hall
611
0.93%
Liberal
John Hart
7,196
10.91%
unknown
Liberal
Nancy Hodges
6,259
9.49%
unknown
Conservative
Joseph Douglas Hunter
6,792
10.30%
unknown
Liberal
Byron Ingemar Johnson
6,440
9.76%
unknown
Social Credit League
Olive Herron Knudsvig
194
0.29%
–
unknown
Conservative
Bruce Alistair McKelvie
6,585
9.98%
unknown
Social Credit League
Charles Bayard Messiter
206
0.31%
–
unknown
Co-operative Commonwealth Fed.
Nigel Morgan
2,536
3.85%
unknown
Liberal
William Thomas Straith
6,676
10.12%
unknown
Co-operative Commonwealth Fed.
James Johnstone Walker
2,357
3.57%
unknown
Social Credit League
Frank Saxton White
260
0.39%
–
unknown
Conservative
Frederick Arthur Willis
5,270
7.99%
unknown
Total valid votes
65,955
100.00%
Total rejected ballots
233
Turnout
%
20th British Columbia election, 1941 20
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±
Expenditures
Co-operative Commonwealth Fed.
William Baxter Caird
3,358
7.72%
unknown
Liberal
John Hart
6,637
15.26%
unknown
Liberal
Nancy Hodges
5,854
13.46%
unknown
Conservative
Joseph Douglas Hunter
5,220
12.00%
unknown
Independent
Andrew Henry Jukes
963
2.21%
Co-operative Commonwealth Fed.
Clare Nulalinda McAllister
3,380
7.77%
unknown
Conservative
Duncan Douglas McTavish
4,657
10.71%
unknown
Co-operative Commonwealth Fed.
Harold Oscar Simpson
2,998
6.89%
unknown
Conservative
Waldo McTavish Skillings
4,150
9.54%
unknown
Liberal
William Thomas Straith
6,280
14.44%
unknown
Total valid votes
43,497
100.00%
Total rejected ballots
131
Turnout
%
20 Seat reduced from four members to three.
31st British Columbia election, 1945
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±
Expenditures
Co-operative Commonwealth Fed.
Frederick James Bevis
5,288
10.56%
unknown
Co-operative Commonwealth Fed.
Murray D. Bryce
6,485
12.95%
unknown
Co-operative Commonwealth Fed.
May Campbell
5,093
10.17%
unknown
Independent Progressive Conservative
Ellen Hart
473
0.94%
John Hart
10,757
21.48%
Nancy Hodges
10,518
21.01%
Social Credit Alliance
Andrew Henry Jukes
743
1.48%
Labour Progressive Party
Robert Joseph Kerr
436
0.87%
William Thomas Straith
10,278
20.53%
Total valid votes
50,071
100.00%
Total rejected ballots
124
23rd British Columbia election, 1952 , Ballot A 21
Party
Candidate
Votes1st count
%
Votesfinal count
%
±%
Social Credit League
Lydia Arsens
4,518
18.96%
Co-operative Commonwealth Fed.
6,008
25.21%
8,421
41.09%
unknown
Independent
Phillip Bernard Freedman
137
0.57%
-
-.- %
unknown
Progressive Conservative
Lillian Margaret Harvey
4,362
18.30%
-
-.- %
unknown
Liberal
Nancy Hodges
8,805
36.95%
12,071
58.91%
unknown
Total valid votes
23,830
100.00%
20,492
%
Total rejected ballots
1,991
Turnout
77.94%
21 Candidate choices in multi-member ridings such as Victoria City were split into separate ballot competitions for the elimination ballot. Victoria City ran three fields of candidates, arranged in Ballots A, B, and C. Preferential ballot; first and final counts (of 4) shown only.
23rd British Columbia election, 1952 , Ballot B 22
Party
Candidate
Votes1st count
%
Votesfinal count
%
±%
Co-operative Commonwealth Fed.
Colin Cameron
6,329
27.08%
8,902
44.60%
unknown
Social Credit League
Elmer Duncan McEwan
4,365
18.68%
Progressive Conservative
Albert DeBurgo McPhillips
4,608
19.72%
-
-.- %
unknown
Liberal
Daniel John Proudfoot
7,842
33.56%
11,057
55.40%
unknown
Independent
William Alfred Scott
226
0.97%
-
-%
unknown
Total valid votes
23,370
100.00%
19,959
%
Total rejected ballots
2,424
Turnout
77.94%
22 Preferential ballot; first and final counts (of 4) shown only.
23rd British Columbia election, 1952 , Ballot C 23
Party
Candidate
Votes1st count
%
Votesfinal count
%
±%
Co-operative Commonwealth Fed.
May Campbell
5,975
25.24%
8,511
41.98%
unknown
Progressive Conservative
Walter Sabiston Miles
4,601
19.44%
-
-.- %
unknown
Social Credit League
John Donald Smith
4,637
19.59%
Liberal
William Thomas Straith
8,457
35.73%
11,762
58.02%
unknown
Total valid votes
23,670
100.00%
20,273
%
Total rejected ballots
2,129
Turnout
77.94%
23 Preferential ballot; first and final counts only (of 3) shown.
24th British Columbia election, 1953 Ballot A 24
Party
Candidate
Votes1st count
%
Votesfinal count
%
±%
Co-operative Commonwealth Fed.
Thomas Victor Allen
4,881
21.42%
1 -
-.- %
unknown
Social Credit
Lydia Arsens
8,616
37.81%
9,999
52.99%
Labour Progressive
Doris Winifred Blakey
126
0.55%
-
-.- %
Progressive Conservative
Arthur St. Clair Chapman
1,227
5.38%
-
-%
unknown
Independent
Claude Lionel Harrison
1,022
4.49%
-
-.- %
unknown
Liberal
Nancy Hodges
6,915
30.35%
8,869
47.01%
unknown
Total valid votes
22,787
100.00%
18,868
%
Total rejected ballots
1,804
Total Registered Voters
Turnout
%
24 See Note on 1952 Election Ballot A. Preferential ballot; first and final counts (of 5) shown only.
24th British Columbia election, 1953 Ballot B 25
Party
Candidate
Votes1st count
%
Votesfinal count
%
±%
Co-operative Commonwealth Fed.
Colin Cameron
5,267
23.50%
-
-.- %
unknown
Social Credit
William Neelands Chant
9,131
40.73%
10,330
55.32%
Labour Progressive
Archibald McGugan
153
0.68%
-
-.- %
Liberal
Daniel John Proudfoot
6,484
28.92%
8,344
44.68%
unknown
Progressive Conservative
Montague Laurence Tyrwhitt-Drake 26
1,383
6.17%
-
-%
unknown
Total valid votes
22,418
100.00%
18,674
%
Total rejected ballots
2,162
Total Registered Voters
Turnout
%
25 Preferential ballot; final count is between top two candidates from first count; intermediary counts (of 4) not shown
26 Listed as "Drake, Montagne Lawrence Tyrwhitt" in Statement of Votes. In 1956 Statement of Votes he was listed as Tyrwhitt-Drake.
24th British Columbia election, 1953 Ballot C 27
Party
Candidate
Votes1st count
%
Votesfinal count
%
±%
Co-operative Commonwealth Fed.
May Campbell
4,923
21.96%
-
-.- %
unknown
Labour Progressive
Irving Floyd Mortensen
127
0.57%
-
-.- %
Progressive Conservative
Robert James Patch
1,139
5.08%
-
-%
unknown
Liberal
William Thomas Straith
7,193
32.09%
8,907
46.90%
unknown
Social Credit
Walter Percival Wright
9,032
40.30%
10,084
53.10%
Total valid votes
22,414
100.00%
18,991
%
Total rejected ballots
2,173
Total Registered Voters
Turnout
%
27 Preferential ballot; first and final counts (of 4) not shown
25th British Columbia election, 1956
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±
Expenditures
Social Credit
Lydia Arsens
7,827
5.02%
–
unknown
Labour Progressive Party
Myrtle Woodward Bergren
124
0.08%
unknown
Labour Progressive Party
Doris Winifred Blakey
143
1.10%
unknown
Co-operative Commonwealth
William Baxter Caird
3,417
2.19%
unknown
Co-operative Commonwealth
May Campbell
3,432
5.67%
unknown
Social Credit
William Neelands Chant
9,199
14.95%
–
unknown
Liberal
Geoffrey Innes Edgelow
7,241
11.96%
unknown
Liberal
George Frederick Thompson Gregory
8,408
13.89%
unknown
Co-operative Commonwealth
Neil Johnson MacGregor Hindle
3,265
5.39%
unknown
Labour Progressive Party
Ernest Leon Knott
162
0.27%
unknown
Liberal
Forrest Linden Shaw
7,205
11.91%
unknown
Social Credit
John Donald Smith
8,620
14.24%
–
unknown
Progressive Conservative
Montague Lawrence Tyrwhitt-Drake
1,476
2.44%
unknown
Total valid votes
60,519
100.00%
Total rejected ballots
212
Turnout
%
26th British Columbia election, 1960
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±
Expenditures
Progressive Conservative
Clive D. Campbell
1,959
3.00%
unknown
CCF
May Campbell
4,598
7.04%
unknown
Social Credit
William Neelands Chant
9,864
15.10%
–
unknown
Progressive Conservative
Theodore H. Cressy
1,543
2.36%
unknown
Liberal
Geoffrey Innes Edgelow
6,083
9.31%
unknown
CCF
Rhoda Erickson
4,262
6.52%
unknown
Liberal
George Frederick Thompson Gregory
7,278
11.14%
unknown
CCF
Neil John MacGregor Hindle
4,516
6.91%
unknown
Liberal
George Frederick Thompson Gregory
8,408
13.89%
unknown
Progressive Conservative
Charles A.P. Murison
2,236
3.42%
unknown
Liberal
Forrest Linden Shaw
5,464
8.36%
unknown
Social Credit
Waldo McTavish Skillings
8,671
13.27%
–
unknown
Social Credit
John Donald Smith
8,855
13.55%
–
unknown
Total valid votes
65,329
100.00%
Total rejected ballots
388
Turnout
%
27th British Columbia election, 1963
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±
Expenditures
Social Credit
William Neelands Chant
9,736
5.42%
–
unknown
Progressive Conservative
Theodore H. Cressy
2,282
1.27%
unknown
New Democratic
Henry A.L. Fanthorpe
3,324
1.85%
unknown
Liberal
Elizabeth Forbes
4,355
2.43%
unknown
Progressive Conservative
William Charles Gelling
2,528
1.41%
unknown
Liberal
Michael Griffin
4,440
7.57%
unknown
Liberal
Bruce Humber
4,302
7.33%
unknown
Communist
Ernest Leon Knott
153
0.26%
unknown
Progressive Conservative
John Wilberforce Loader
2,253
3.84%
unknown
New Democratic
David Philip Reimer
3,275
5.58%
unknown
Social Credit
Waldo McTavish Skillings
9,347
15.93%
–
unknown
Social Credit
John Donald Smith
9,118
15.54%
–
unknown
New Democratic
Alfred W. Toone
3,557
6.06%
unknown
Total valid votes
58,670
100.00%
Total rejected ballots
175
Turnout
%
Sources [ ]
Elections BC Historical Returns