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 .
1st British Columbia election, 1871 Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures Independent Robert Beaven 301 19.87% unknown Independent Simeon Duck 301 19.87% unknown Independent John Foster McCreight 1 373 24.62% unknown Independent James Trimble 321 21.19% unknown Independent Robert Taylor Williams 124 8.18% unknown Total valid votes 1,515 100.00% Total rejected ballots Turnout % 1 First Premier of British Columbia .
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.
6th British Columbia election, 1890 Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures Opposition Robert Beaven 997 13.89% – unknown Government William Dalby 528 7.35% – unknown Government Simeon Duck 658 9.17% – unknown Opposition John Grant 1,226 17.08% – unknown Government John Irving 747 10.41% – unknown Opposition George Lawson Milne 901 12.55% – unknown Opposition Francis Gilbert Richards Jr. 702 9.76% – unknown Government John Herbert Turner 851 11.85% – unknown Independent Charles Wilson 570 7.94% unknown Total valid votes 7,179 100.00% Total rejected ballots Turnout %
8th British Columbia election, 1898 Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures Independent Robert Beaven 906 9.63% unknown Opposition Arthur Louis Belyea 949 10.09% – unknown Opposition Francis Brooke Gregory 1,149 12.21% – unknown Government Richard Hall 1,274 13.54% – unknown Government Henry Dallas Helmcken 1,484 15.77% – unknown Government Albert Edward McPhillips 1,229 13.06% – unknown Opposition Alexander Stewart 1,065 11.32% – unknown Government John Herbert Turner 1,352 14.37% – unknown Total valid votes 9,408 100.00% Total rejected ballots Turnout %
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 Oliver14 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.
13th British Columbia election, 1912 Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures Conservative Henry Frederick William Behnsen 2,392 14.92% unknown Liberal Harlan Carey Brewster 2,049 12.78% unknown Conservative Frederick Davey 2,471 15.41% unknown Liberal Richard Thomas Elliott 1,979 12.34% unknown Conservative Richard McBride 3,223 20.10% unknown Socialist Victor Rainsford Midgley15 2,218 11.48% – unknown Independent Bernard Joseph Perry 616 3.84% unknown Conservative Henry Broughton Thomson 2,641 16.47% unknown Total valid votes 16,034 100.00% Total rejected ballots Turnout % 15 Endorsed by Social Democratic Party of BC
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 Conservative Joshua Hinchcliffe 5,305 9.84 Liberal John Hart 5,016 9.30 Liberal Joseph Badenoch Clearihue 4,551 8.44 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.
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. William Baxter Caird 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
