# Esquimalt (electoral district)

Esquimalt was a provincial electoral district in the province of British Columbia, Canada. It was one of the province's first twelve ridings upon its entry into Confederation. It was redistributed following the 1975 election into Esquimalt-Port Renfrew and Saanich and the Islands.

## Election results

Note: Winners of each election are in bold.
1st 1871 British Columbia general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | Expenditures |
| | Independent | Charles Berry Brown | 5 | 2.75% | unknown |
| | Independent | David Cameron | 31 | 17.03% | unknown |
| | Independent | Henry S. Caulier | 9 | 4.95% | unknown |
| | Independent | Henry Cogan | 34 | 18.68% | unknown |
| | Independent | William Fisher | 29 | 15.93% | unknown |
| | Independent | Alexander Rocke Robertson | 74 | 40.66% | unknown |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 182 | 100.00% | |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | % | | |
British Columbia byelection: Esquimalt, November 27, 1871 $^1$ :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | Expenditures |
| | Independent | Alexander Rocke Robertson | Acclaimed | -.- % | unknown |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | n/a | -.- % | |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | % | | |
| $^1$ The byelection was called due to the resignation of A.R. Robertson upon appointment to Executive Council 14 November 1871. 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. |||||||
vte1875 British Columbia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | Elected |
| | Independent | William Fisher | 58 | 32.58 | Y |
| | Reform caucus | Frederick W. Williams | 52 | 29.21 | Y |
| | Government | Robert Weir (politician) | Robert Weir]] | 43 | 24.16 |
| | Government | Ninian Frederick Foster | 25 | 14.05 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 178 | 100.00 |
3rd 1878 British Columbia general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | Expenditures |
| | Government | William Fisher | 45 | 15.41% | – | unknown |
| | Opposition | Hans Lars Helgesen | 70 | 37.43% | – | unknown |
| | Opposition | Frederick W. Williams | 78 | 41.00% | – | unknown |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 187 | 100.00% | |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | % | | |
4th 1882 British Columbia general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | Expenditures |
| | Opposition | Francis Thomas Child | 61 | 21.71% | – | unknown |
| | Government | Hans Lars Helgesen | 77 | 27.40% | – | unknown |
| | Government | John Roland Hett$^2$ | 71 | 25.27% | – | unknown |
| | Opposition | Charles Edward Pooley$^2$ | 72 | 25.62% | – | unknown |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 281 | 100.00% | |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | % | | |
| $^2$ The official returns gave Hett 74 votes and Pooley 73, but a B.C. Supreme Court decision altered the results and declared Pooley elected. |||||||
5th 1886 British Columbia general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | Expenditures |
| | Opposition | Hans Lars Helgesen | 70 | 16.87% | – | unknown |
| | Opposition | John Roland Hett | 72 | 17.35% | – | unknown |
| | Government | David Williams Higgins | 123 | 29.64% | – | unknown |
| | Government | Charles Edward Pooley | 150 | 36.14% | – | unknown |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 415 | 100.00% | |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | % | | |
6th 1890 British Columbia general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | Expenditures |
| | Opposition | Hans Lars Helgesen | 89 | 22.20% | – | unknown |
| | Government | David Williams Higgins | 155 | 38.65% | – | unknown |
| | Government | Charles Edward Pooley | 157 | 39.15% | – | unknown |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 401 | 100.00% | |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | % | | |
7th 1894 British Columbia general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | Expenditures |
| | Government | David Williams Higgins | Accl. | --% | – | unknown |
| | Government | Charles Edward Pooley | Accl. | --% | – | unknown |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | -- | --% | |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | % | | |
8th 1898 British Columbia general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | Expenditures |
| | Government | William Fitzherbert T. Bullen$^3$ | 208 | 23.94% | – | unknown |
| | Opposition | Deenis Reginald Harris | 53 | 6.10% | – | unknown |
| | Opposition | William Henry Hayward | 189 | 21.75% | – | unknown |
| | Government | David Williams Higgins$^3$ | 206 | 23.70% | – | unknown |
| | Opposition | Charles Edward Pooley | 213 | 24.51% | – | unknown |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 869 | 100.00% | |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | % | | |
| $^3$ Results taken from the Victoria Colonist 12 July 1898. Although Bullen received more votes than Higgins, the B.C. Supreme Court controverted his election and declared Higgins elected instead. |||||||
9th 1900 British Columbia election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | Expenditures |
| | Government | George Bizantson | 50 | 6.77% | – | unknown |
| | Government | Donald Fraser | 75 | 10.16% | – | unknown |
| | Independent Opposition | William Henry Hayward | 272 | 36.86% | | unknown |
| | Independent Opposition | David Williams Higgins | 111 | 15.04% | | unknown |
| | Opposition | Charles Edward Pooley | 230 | 31.17% | – | unknown |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 738 | 100.00% | |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | % | | |
10th 1903 British Columbia general election $^4$ :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | Expenditures |
| | Liberal | John Jardine | 212 | 47.01% | unknown |
| | Conservative | Charles Edward Pooley | 239 | 52.99% | unknown |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 451 | 100.00% |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | % | |
| $^4$Seat was reduced from two members to one. |||||||
11th 1907 British Columbia general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | Expenditures |
| | Liberal | John Jardine | 297 | 58.58% | unknown |
| | Conservative | Charles Edward Pooley | 210 | 41.42% | unknown |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 507 | 100.00% |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | % | |
12th 1909 British Columbia general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | Expenditures |
| | Conservative | Henry Dallas Helmcken | 362 | 45.36% | unknown |
| | Liberal | John Jardine | 436 | 54.64% | unknown |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 798 | 100.00% |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | % | |
13th 1912 British Columbia general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | Expenditures |
| | Independent Conservative | Henry Dallas Helmcken | 186 | 21.73% |
| | Liberal | Malcolm Bruce Jackson | 151 | 17.64% |
| | Independent Conservative | John Jardine | 96 | 11.21% |
| | Socialist | George Oliver | 25 | 2.92% | – | unknown |
| | Conservative | Robert Henry Pooley | 398 | 46.50% | | unknown |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 856 | 100.00% | |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | % | | |
14th 1916 British Columbia general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | Expenditures |
| | Liberal | Arthur William McCurdy | 653 | 49.92% | unknown |
| | Conservative | Robert Henry Pooley | 655 | 50.08% | unknown |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 1,308 | 100.00% |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
15th 1920 British Columbia general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | Expenditures |
| | Socialist Labour | Burges James Gadsden | 479 | 20.63% | unknown |
| | Liberal | Henry Charles Helgesen | 685 | 29.50% | unknown |
| | Conservative | Robert Henry Pooley | 1,158 | 49.87% | unknown |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 2,322 | 100.00% |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | % | |
16th 1924 British Columbia general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal | Frank Robert Carlow | 625 | 22.64% |
| | Independent Conservative | Alexander Lockley | 341 | 12.35% |
| | Provincial | Robert Pope Matheson | 515 | 18.65% |
| | Conservative | Robert Henry Pooley | 1,280 | 46.36% |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 2,761 | 100.00% |
17th 1928 British Columbia general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | Expenditures |
| | Independent Liberal | Frank Robert Carlow$^5$ | 25 | 0.86% |
| | Conservative | Robert Henry Pooley | 1,806 | 62.10% | unknown |
| | Liberal | Mary Ellen Smith $^6$ | 1,077 | 18.65% | unknown |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 2,908 | 100.00% |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 92 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | % | |
| $^5$ Independent in Summary of Votes. |||||||
| $^6$Mary Ellen Smith was the first female candidate to the BC Legislature. |||||||
vte1933 British Columbia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Unionist | Robert Henry Pooley | 1,466 | 39.03 |
| | Liberal | Charles Eustatius Whitney-Griffiths | 1,407 | 37.46 |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | Arthur Norman Brown | 525 | 13.98 |
| | Non-Partisan Independent Group | James Elrick | 358 | 9.53 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 3,756 | 100.00 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 104 |
19th 1937 British Columbia general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | Expenditures |
| | Independent | John William Archer | 67 | 1.70% | | unknown |
| | Social Credit League | Arabella Cicily Boydell | 57 | 1.44% | – | unknown |
| | Conservative | Elmer Victor Finland | 1,642 | 41.60% | | unknown |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth Fed. | William Donaldson Smith | 765 | 19.38% | | unknown |
| | Liberal | Charles Eustatius Whitney-Griffiths | 1,416 | 35.88% | | unknown |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 3,947 | 100.00% | |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 28 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | % | | |
20th 1941 British Columbia general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | Expenditures |
| | Liberal | Charles Taschereau Beard | 1,348 | 35.06% | unknown |
| | Conservative | Elmer Victor Finland | 1,554 | 40.42% | unknown |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth Fed. | Henry George Webber | 943 | 24.53% | unknown |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 3,845 | 100.00% |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 134 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | % | |
21st 1945 British Columbia general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | Expenditures |
| | Coalition | Charles Taschereau Beard | 2,568 | 56.35% | – | unknown |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth Fed. | George Henry Webber | 1,989 | 43.65% | | unknown |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 4,557 | 100.00% | |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 114 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | % | | |
22nd 1949 British Columbia general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Coalition | Charles Taschereau Beard | 4,219 | 51.26% |
| | Independent | George Edward Bonner | 1,554 | 40.42% |
| | Independent Conservative | Elmer Victor Finland | 943 | 24.53% |
| | Union of Electors | Ellen Hart | 92 | 1.12% |
| | Independent Conservative | Henry George Webber | 2,488 | 30.23% |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 8,231 | 100.00% |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 173 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | % | |
23rd British Columbia election, 1952$^7$ :
| Party | Candidate | Votes 1st count | % | Votes final count | % | ±% |
| | Social Credit League | William Neelands Chant | 1,606 | 17.73% |
| | Liberal | Geoffrey Indnes Edgelow | 2,294 | 25.33% | 3,597 | 43.14% | unknown |
| | Progressive Conservative | Robert Hamilton Fort | 1,550 | 17.11% | - | - % | unknown |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth Fed. | Frank Mitchell | 3,607 | 39.83% | 4,741 | 56.86% | unknown |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 9,057 | % | 8,338 | 100.00% | |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 366 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | % | | |
| $^7$ Final count is between top two candidates from previous count; intermediary counts (of 3) not shown |||||||
24th British Columbia election, 1953 $^8$ :
| Party | Candidate | Votes 1st count | % | Votes final count | % | ±% |
| | Social Credit League | Herbert Joseph Bruch | 3,264 | 36.96% | 4,147 | 51.87% |
| | Liberal | Geofrey Innes Edgelow | 1,998 | 22.62% | - | - % | unknown |
| | Progressive Conservative | Norman L. Goodwin | 480 | 5.44 | - | - % | unknown |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth Fed. | Frank Mitchell | 3,089 | 34.98% | 3,848 | 48.13% | unknown |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 8,831 | 100.00% | 7,995 | % | |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 445 | | | | |
| Total Registered Voters | Total Registered Voters | | | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | % | | | | |
| $^8$ Preferential ballot; final count is between top two candidates from first count; intermediary counts (of 3) not shown |||||||
25th 1956 British Columbia general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | Expenditures |
| | Social Credit | Herbert Joseph Bruch | 3,530 | 43.70 |
| | Progressive Conservative | George Brock Chisholm | 821 | 10.16% | unknown |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth Fed. | Elvan Walters | 2,013 | 24.92% | unknown |
| | Liberal | George Wilfrid Whittaker | 1,714 | 21.22% | unknown |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 8,078 | 100.00% |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 110 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | % | |
26th 1960 British Columbia general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | Expenditures |
| | Social Credit | Herbert Joseph Bruch | 4,429 | 40.38% |
| | Progressive Conservative | James Bryant | 991 | 9.04% | unknown |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth Fed. | Geoffrey Harris Mitchell | 3.383 | 30.84% | unknown |
| | Liberal | George Wilfrid Whittaker | 2,165 | 19.74% | unknown |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 10,968 | 100.00% |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 126 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | % | |
27th 1963 British Columbia general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | Expenditures |
| | Social Credit | Herbert Joseph Bruch | 4,951 | 48.28% |
| | New Democratic | Geoffrey Harris Mitchell | 2,806 | 27.36% | unknown |
| | Liberal | Maurice Charles Simard | 1,398 | 13.63% | unknown |
| | Progressive Conservative | Robin James Dunsmuir | 1099 | 10.72% | unknown |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 10,254 | 100.00% |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 121 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | % | |
28th 1966 British Columbia general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | Expenditures |
| | New Democratic | John E. Bartanus | 3,445 | 30.25% | unknown |
| | Social Credit | Herbert Joseph Bruch | 6,075 | 53.35% |
| | Liberal | David Alexander Elrix | 1,867 | 16.40% | unknown |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 11,387 | 100.00% |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 285 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | % | |
29th 1969 British Columbia general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | Expenditures |
| | Social Credit | Herbert Joseph Bruch | 8,532 | 52.60% |
| | New Democratic | James Henry Gorst | 5,718 | 35.25% | unknown |
| | Liberal | Frederick Henry Phillips | 1,971 | 12.15% | unknown |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 16,221 | 100.00% |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 415 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | % | |
30th 1972 British Columbia general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | Expenditures |
| | Social Credit | Herbert Joseph Bruch | 5,320 | 27.46% |
| | New Democratic | James Henry Gorst | 6,568 | 33.90% | unknown |
| | Liberal | Henry Donovan Joy | 3,884 | 20.05% | unknown |
| | Progressive Conservative | John Sedgwick Williams | 3,601 | 18.59% | unknown |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 19,373 | 100.00% |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 453 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | % | |
31st 1975 British Columbia general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | Expenditures |
| | Independent | John Strong Craggs | 132 | 0.54% | unknown |
| | Progressive Conservative | Thelma Dawson | 2,033 | 8.37% | unknown |
| | Social Credit | Lyle Benjamin James Kahl | 10,637 | 43.78% |
| | New Democratic | Franklin John Trehern Mitchell | 10,516 | 43.28% | unknown |
| | Liberal | Leonard J. Stephenson | 977 | 4.02% | unknown |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 24,295 | 100.00% |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 417 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | % | |

## Subsequent elections

After the 32nd general election in 1979, the riding of Esquimalt was incorporated into the new riding of Esquimalt-Port Renfrew.

## Sources

* Elections BC website - historical election data