# Russell (Manitoba electoral district)

Russell was a provincial electoral division in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It was located in the southwestern section of the province.

## Historical riding

The original Russell riding was created in 1886, shortly after the expansion of Manitoba's western boundaries. It existed until 1957, when it was combined with the riding of Birtle as Birtle-Russell. The riding was primarily agrarian, and elected candidates from various parties who supported agrarian interests.

## List of provincial representatives

| Name | Party | Took office | Left office |
| Edward Leacock | Cons | 1886 | 1888 |
| James Fisher | Lib | 1888 | 1889(?) |
| | Independent/Opposition | 1889(?) | 1896 |
| | Cons | 1896 | 1899 |
| Henry Mullins | Cons | 1899 | 1903 |
| W.J. Doig | Lib | 1903 | 1907 |
| Angus Bonnycastle | Cons | 1907 | 1914 |
| Donald C. McDonald | Lib | 1914 | 1915 |
| William Wilson | Lib | 1915 | 1922 |
| Isaac Griffiths | Prog | 1922 | 1932 |
| | Lib-Prog | 1932 | 1941 |
| William Wilson | Lib-Prog | 1941 | 1949 |
| Rodney Clement | Independent Lib-Prog | 1949 | 1954(?) |
| | Lib-Prog | 1954(?) | 1958 |

## Modern riding

The riding of Birtle-Russell lasted from 1957 to 1979, and the subsequent riding of Roblin-Russell from 1979 to 1999. In 1999, the Roblin section of the riding was joined with Dauphin as Dauphin—Roblin, and a separate Russell riding was re-established. The riding was dissolved again in 2011.
The modern riding was bordered to the north by Dauphin—Roblin, to the east by Ste. Rose, to the south by Minnedosa and Arthur-Virden, and to the west by the province of Saskatchewan. The town of Russell was the main urban centre in this riding, which also included Birtle, Inglis, Angusville, Rossburn, Erickson, Oakburn, Shoal Lake and Hamiota. The Riding Mountain National Park and Asessippi Provincial Park were also located in Russell.
The riding's population in 1996 was 18,647. In 1999, the average family income was $39,999, and the unemployment rate was 6.10%. Russell remained primarily an agrarian riding, with agriculture accounting for 32% of its industry. Fourteen per cent of the riding's residents were aboriginal, and a further 13% were Ukrainian. The riding also had the second-highest percentage of senior citizens in Manitoba, at 21% of the total.
The last MLA was Len Derkach of the Progressive Conservative Party, who held the riding of Roblin-Russell from 1986 to 1999. The New Democratic Party made serious inroads in the riding before its dissolution.
Following the 2008 electoral redistribution, the riding was renamed Riding Mountain and expanded to include parts of the riding of Minnedosa. This change took effect for the 2011 election.

## List of provincial representatives

| Name | Party | Took office | Left office |
| Len Derkach | PC | 1999 | 2011 |

## Electoral results
### 1886

1886 Manitoba general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Edward Leacock | 228 | 50.89 |
| | Liberal | James Fisher | 220 | 49.11 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 448 | – |
| Rejected | Rejected | Rejected | N/A | – |
| Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | 697 | 64.28 |
| Source(s) Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba. |||||||

### 1888

1888 Manitoba general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | James Fisher | 346 | 79.18 | 30.07 |
| | Independent | John Butternut Fraser | 91 | 20.82 | – |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 437 | – | – |
| Rejected | Rejected | Rejected | N/A | – |
| Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | N/A | – | – |
| Source(s) Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba. |||||||

### 1892

1892 Manitoba general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | James Fisher | | 0.00 | – |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | | – | – |
| Rejected | Rejected | Rejected | N/A | – |
| Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | 730 | 0.00 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba. |||||||

### 1896

1896 Manitoba general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | James Fisher | 337 | 51.69 | – |
| | Liberal | Thomas Almack | 315 | 48.31 | – |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 652 | – | – |
| Rejected | Rejected | Rejected | N/A | – |
| Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | 806 | 80.89 | 80.89 |
| Source(s) Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba. |||||||

### 1899

1899 Manitoba general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Mullins | 466 | 51.95 | – |
| | Liberal | John Crerar | 431 | 48.05 | -0.26 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 897 | – | – |
| Rejected | Rejected | Rejected | N/A | – |
| Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | 1,211 | 74.07 | -6.82 |
| Source(s) Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba. |||||||

### 1903

1903 Manitoba general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Doig | 475 | 57.51 | 9.46 |
| | Conservative | Angus Bonnycastle | 351 | 42.49 | -9.46 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 826 | – | – |
| Rejected | Rejected | Rejected | N/A | – |
| Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | 946 | 87.32 | 13.24 |
| Source(s) Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba. |||||||

### 1907

1907 Manitoba general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Angus Bonnycastle | 605 | 50.37 | 7.88 |
| | Liberal | Dr. Thomas Alexander Wright | 596 | 49.63 | -7.88 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 1,201 | – | – |
| Rejected | Rejected | Rejected | N/A | – |
| Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | 1,589 | 75.58 | -11.73 |
| Source(s) Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba. |||||||

### 1910

1910 Manitoba general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Angus Bonnycastle | 900 | 50.22 | -0.15 |
| | Liberal | William Valens | 892 | 49.78 | 0.15 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 1,792 | – | – |
| Rejected | Rejected | Rejected | N/A | – |
| Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | 2,181 | 82.16 | 6.58 |
| Source(s) Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba. |||||||

### 1911 by-election

Manitoba provincial by-election, February 4, 1911 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Frederic Newton | 916 | 58.46 | 8.23 |
| | Liberal | William Valens | 651 | 41.54 | -8.23 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 1,567 | – | – |
| Rejected | Rejected | Rejected | N/A | – |
| Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | N/A | – | – |
| Source(s) Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba. |||||||

### 1914

1914 Manitoba general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Donald Cromwell McDonald | 892 | 50.86 | 9.31 |
| | Conservative | Edward Graham | 862 | 49.14 | -9.31 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 1,754 | – | – |
| Rejected | Rejected | Rejected | N/A | – |
| Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | 2,140 | 81.96 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba. |||||||

### 1915

1915 Manitoba general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Wilber Wilfred Wilson | 1,033 | 62.72 | 11.86 |
| | Conservative | James Powell Laycock | 614 | 37.28 | -11.86 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 1,647 | – | – |
| Rejected | Rejected | Rejected | N/A | – |
| Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | 2,234 | 73.72 | -8.24 |
| Source(s) Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba. |||||||

### 1920

1920 Manitoba general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Wilber Wilfred Wilson | 1,274 | 50.78 | -11.94 |
| | Farmer | R. J. Brown | 642 | 25.59 | – |
| | Independent | Albert G. Lanigan | 593 | 23.63 | – |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 2,509 | – | – |
| Rejected | Rejected | Rejected | N/A | – |
| Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | 3,884 | 64.60 | -9.13 |
| Source(s) Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba. |||||||

### 1922

1922 Manitoba general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | United Farmers | Isaac Griffiths | 1,177 | 43.58 | – |
| | Liberal | William Wilber Wilfred Wilson | 783 | 28.99 | -21.79 |
| | Conservative | Edgar Carnegy de Galinhard | 741 | 27.43 | – |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 2,701 | – | – |
| Rejected | Rejected | Rejected | N/A | – |
| Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | 4,018 | 67.22 | 2.62 |
| Source(s) Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba. |||||||

### 1927

1927 Manitoba general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive | Isaac Griffiths | 1,431 | 36.43 | – |
| | Conservative | Robert Peden | 1,311 | 33.38 | 5.94 |
| | Liberal | William Wilber Wilfred Wilson | 932 | 23.73 | -5.26 |
| | Independent | Basil Lazaruk | 254 | 6.47 | – |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 3,928 | – | – |
| Rejected | Rejected | Rejected | N/A | – |
| Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | 5,042 | 77.91 | 10.68 |
| Source(s) Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba. |||||||

### 1932

1932 Manitoba general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal–Progressive | Isaac Griffiths | 2,523 | 67.10 | – |
| | Conservative | Ernest Harold Whelpley | 1,237 | 32.90 | -0.48 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 3,760 | – | – |
| Rejected | Rejected | Rejected | N/A | – |
| Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | 5,667 | 66.35 | -11.56 |
| Source(s) Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba. |||||||

### 1935 by-election

Manitoba provincial by-election, June 24, 1935 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal–Progressive | Isaac Griffiths | acclaimed | – | – |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | | – | – |
| Rejected | Rejected | Rejected | N/A | – |
| Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | N/A | – | – |
| Source(s) Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba. |||||||

### 1936

1936 Manitoba general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal–Progressive | Isaac Griffiths | 1,827 | 53.14 | – |
| | Independent Labour | H. J. Peddie | 1,611 | 46.86 | – |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 3,438 | – | – |
| Rejected | Rejected | Rejected | 44 | – |
| Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | 6,524 | 53.37 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba. |||||||

### 1941

1941 Manitoba general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal–Progressive | William Wilber Wilfred Wilson | 1,907 | 50.32 | -2.82 |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | H. J. Peddie | 1,883 | 49.68 | – |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 3,790 | – | – |
| Rejected | Rejected | Rejected | 16 | – |
| Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | 6,369 | 59.76 | 6.39 |
| Source(s) Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba. |||||||

### 1945

1945 Manitoba general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal–Progressive | William Wilber Wilfred Wilson | 2,250 | 56.00 | 5.68 |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | Michael John Tokar | 1,768 | 44.00 | -5.68 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 4,018 | – | – |
| Rejected | Rejected | Rejected | 61 | – |
| Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | 5,991 | 68.09 | 8.33 |
| Source(s) Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba. |||||||

### 1949

1949 Manitoba general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Rod Clement | 2,207 | 62.12 | – |
| | Independent | Michael John Tokar | 1,346 | 37.88 | – |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 3,553 | – | – |
| Rejected | Rejected | Rejected | 29 | – |
| Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | 5,227 | 68.53 | 0.44 |
| Source(s) Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba. |||||||

### 1953

1953 Manitoba general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent Liberal | Rod Clement | 2,033 | 46.70 | – |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | Michael John Sotas | 1,322 | 30.37 | – |
| | Progressive Conservative | Keith Porter | 846 | 19.43 | – |
| | Social Credit | Charles Russell Beswatherick | 152 | 3.49 | – |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 4,353 | – | – |
| Rejected | Rejected | Rejected | 56 | – |
| Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | 5,206 | 84.69 | 16.16 |
| Source(s) Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba. |||||||

### 1999

vte1999 Manitoba general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Progressive Conservative | Len Derkach | 4,397 | 53.63 | 34.19 | $25,226.25 |
| | New Democratic | Vince Lelond | 3,802 | 46.37 | – | $20,154.00 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 8,199 | – | – |
| Rejected | Rejected | Rejected | 137 | – |
| Eligible voters / turnout | Eligible voters / turnout | Eligible voters / turnout | 12,785 | 65.20 | -19.49 |
| Source(s) Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba. |||||||

### 2003

2003 Manitoba general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Progressive Conservative | Len Derkach | 4,087 | 51.96 | -1.67 | $27,389.37 |
| | New Democratic | Don Yanick | 3,208 | 40.78 | -5.59 | $16,433.91 |
| | Liberal | Joan Clement | 571 | 7.26 | – | $5,109.83 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 7,866 | – | – |
| Rejected | Rejected | Rejected | 42 | – |
| Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | 12,484 | 63.35 | -1.86 |
| Source(s) Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (2003). Statement of Votes for the 38th Provincial General Election, June 3, 2003 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba. |||||||

### 2007

vte2007 Manitoba general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Progressive Conservative | Len Derkach | 4,141 | 58.49 | 6.53 | $24,191.42 |
| | New Democratic | Teri Nicholson | 2,375 | 33.55 | -7.24 | $16,949.28 |
| | Liberal | Clarice Wilson | 564 | 7.97 | 0.71 | $10.92 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 7,080 | – | – |
| Rejected | Rejected | Rejected | 21 | – |
| Eligible voters / turnout | Eligible voters / turnout | Eligible voters / turnout | 11,652 | 60.94 | -2.40 |
| Source(s) Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (2007). Statement of Votes for the 39th Provincial General Election, May 22, 2007 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba. |||||||