Victoria (British Columbia provincial electoral district)

Victoria was a provincial electoral district in the Canadian province of British Columbia, and was one of the first twelve ridings at the time of that province's joining Confederation in 1871 and stayed on the hustings until 1890. From 1894 to 1963 it did not appear on the electoral map. During that period the Victoria area was represented by North Victoria, South Victoria, Saanich, Esquimalt, Oak Bay and Victoria City. In 1966 the old Victoria City riding was redistributed and given the name of the old "rural" riding, Victoria.

Demographics

Population, 1961
Population change, 1871–1961
Area (km2)
Population density (people per km2)

Notable MLAs

• Amor De Cosmos, 2nd Premier of British Columbia

Electoral history

1871 British Columbia general election
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	Elected
	Independent	Arthur Bunster	123	32.63%	Y
	Independent	William Dalby	103	27.32%
	Independent	Amor De Cosmos	151	40.05%	Y
Total valid votes			377

British Columbia provincial by-election, 26 November 1874 upon resignations of A. Bunster and A. De Cosmos
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	Elected
	Independent	William Dalby	97	21.90%
	Independent	Charles William Horth	25	5.64%
	Independent	James Thomas McIlmoyl	72	16.25%
	Independent	William Archibald Robertson	108	24.38%	Y
	Independent	William Fraser Tolmie	141	31.83%	Y
Total valid votes			443
The byelection was due to resignations February 9, 1874 of A. Bunster and A. De Cosmos upon winning seats in the federal election January 22, 1874 (in Vancouver and Victoria federal ridings, respectively).

1875 British Columbia general election: Victoria
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	Elected
	Reform caucus	Thomas Basil Humphreys	89	33.58	Y
	Reform caucus	William Fraser Tolmie	65	24.53	Y
	Independent	William Reay	51	19.25
	Independent	Noah Shakespeare	48	18.11
	Independent	Michael Baker	12	4.53
Total valid votes			265	100.00

1878 British Columbia general election: Victoria
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	Elected
	Opposition	James Thomas McIlmoyl	102	20.06	Y
	Opposition	Thomas Basil Humphreys	99	32.04	Y
	Reform caucus	William Fraser Tolmie	62	20.06
	Independent	Thomas Lee	46	14.89
Total valid votes			309	100.00

British Columbia provincial by-election, 10 July 1878 due to Humphreys' appointment to cabinet
Party	Candidate	Votes
	Independent	Thomas Basil Humphreys	Acclaimed
The byelection was called due to Humphreys' resignation upon his appointment to the Executive Council (cabinet) 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.

Sources

• Elections BC Historical Returns