The 1956 British Columbia general election was the 25th general election in the Province of

British Columbia British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...

, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on August 13, 1956, and held on September 19, 1956. The new legislature met for the first time on February 7, 1957. The conservative

Social Credit Social credit is a distributive philosophy of political economy developed by C. H. Douglas. Douglas attributed economic downturns to discrepancies between the cost of goods and the compensation of the workers who made them. To combat what he ...

of Premier

W.A.C. Bennett William Andrew Cecil Bennett (September 6, 1900 – February 23, 1979) was a Canadian politician. He was the 25th premier of British Columbia from 1952 to 1972. With just over 20 years in office, Bennett was and remains the longest-serving prem ...

was re-elected with a majority in the legislature to a third term in government with over 45% of the popular vote. The social democratic CCF formed the official opposition. The

British Columbia Liberal Party The British Columbia Liberal Party, often shortened to the BC Liberals, is a centre-right provincial political party in British Columbia, Canada. The party currently forms the Official Opposition. Subsequent to the 2020 British Columbia genera ...

lost two of its four seats despite winning over 20% of the popular vote. The Progressive Conservative Party lost its single seat in the legislature, and would not win a seat again until the 1972 election. One seat was won by a

Labour Labour or labor may refer to: * Childbirth, the delivery of a baby * Labour (human activity), or work ** Manual labour, physical work ** Wage labour, a socioeconomic relationship between a worker and an employer ** Organized labour and the labour ...

candidate,

Tom Uphill Thomas Hubert Uphill (June 26, 1874 – February 17, 1962) was a socialist politician in British Columbia, longtime mayor of the town of Fernie and also represented the riding named for the town in the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for ...

of Fernie. This election was first after BC switched from Alternative Voting (IRV) (in both single and multi-member districts) back to its historic system that used First Past The Post in single-member districts and Block Voting in multi-member districts.

Results

Note: * Party did not nominate candidates in the previous election.

Results by riding

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William James Asselstine William James Asselstine (July 1, 1891 – August 21, 1973) was an engineer, gold miner and political figure in British Columbia. He represented Atlin from 1933 to 1945 as a Liberal and from 1956 to 1960 as a Social Credit member in the Legi ...

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Stanley John Squire Stanley John Squire (November 24, 1915 – 1998) was a machinist and political figure in British Columbia. He represented Alberni in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1952 to 1966 as a Co-operative Commonwealth Federation and ...

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William Ralph Talbot Chetwynd The Honourable William Ralph Talbot Chetwynd (July 28, 1890 – April 3, 1957) was a British-Canadian businessman and politician. The town of Chetwynd, British Columbia was named in his honor. Born in Staffordshire, England, he was the young ...

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Burnaby Burnaby is a city in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, Canada. Located in the centre of the Burrard Peninsula, it neighbours the City of Vancouver to the west, the District of North Vancouver across the confluence of the Burrard I ...

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William Kenneth Kiernan William Kenneth Kiernan (July 25, 1916 – August 26, 1997) was a Canadian businessman and political figure in British Columbia. He represented Chilliwack in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1952 to 1972 as a Social Credit membe ...

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Chilliwack Chilliwack ( )( hur, Ts'elxwéyeqw) is a city in the province of British Columbia, Canada. Chilliwack is surrounded by mountains and home to recreational areas such as Cultus Lake and Chilliwack Lake Provincial Parks. There are numerous outdo ...

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Ernest Edward Winch Ernest Edward Winch (March 22, 1879 – January 11, 1957) was a British Columbia politician, trade unionist and socialist. He was a BC Co-operative Commonwealth Federation MLA in the British Columbia Legislative Assembly from 1933 until his ...

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Cowichan-Newcastle Cowichan-Newcastle was a provincial electoral district in the Canadian province of British Columbia. It appeared in two separate eras, the later in the British Columbia elections of 1960 and 1963 elections. Demographics Political geography ...

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Robert Martin Strachan Robert Martin Strachan (December 1, 1913 – July 21, 1981) was a trade unionist and politician. He was the longest serving Leader of the Opposition in British Columbia history.Canadian Press, "Robert Strachan Led CCF-NDP in opposition for 13 y ...

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Daniel Robert John Campbell Daniel Robert John Campbell (January 22, 1926 – April 5, 1992) was a Canadian politician. He served in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia is the deliberative assembly of the Parlia ...

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Leo Thomas Nimsick Leo Thomas Nimsick (January 26, 1908 – February 8, 1999) was a political figure in British Columbia. He represented Cranbrook from 1949 to 1966 and Kootenay from 1966 to 1975 in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia as a Co-operat ...

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Delta Delta commonly refers to: * Delta (letter) (Δ or δ), a letter of the Greek alphabet * River delta, at a river mouth * D ( NATO phonetic alphabet: "Delta") * Delta Air Lines, US * Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19 Delta may also ...

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Grand Forks-Greenwood Grand Forks-Greenwood was the name of a provincial electoral district in the Canadian province of British Columbia centred on the town of Grand Forks, in the Boundary Country between the Okanagan and Kootenay Countries. The riding first appeared i ...

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Kaslo-Slocan Kaslo-Slocan was the name of a provincial electoral district in the Canadian province of British Columbia centred on the town of Kaslo on Kootenay Lake as well as the mining towns of the "Silvery Slocan". The riding first appeared in the 1924 el ...

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Lyle Wicks Lyle Wicks (November 1, 1912 - February 3, 2004) was a British Columbia politician. Born in Calgary, Alberta, Wicks graduated from McLean High School in Haney, British Columbia, Canada in 1930. He was one of the first employees of the BC Plywoo ...

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Mackenzie Mackenzie, Mckenzie, MacKenzie, or McKenzie may refer to: People * Mackenzie (given name), a given name (including a list of people with the name) * Mackenzie (surname), a surname (including a list of people with the name) * Clan Mackenzie, a S ...

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Esquimalt The Township of Esquimalt is a municipality at the southern tip of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. It is bordered to the east by the provincial capital, Victoria, to the south by the Strait of Juan de Fuca, to the west by Esquim ...

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New Westminster New Westminster (colloquially known as New West) is a city in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, Canada, and a member municipality of the Metro Vancouver Regional District. It was founded by Major-General Richard Moody as the capi ...

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Rae Eddie John McRae (Rae) Eddie (August 23, 1900 – February 6, 1977) was a Canadian politician, who served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1952 to 1969, representing the riding of New Westminster. He was a member of ...

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Ray Gillis Williston Ray Gillis Williston (January 17, 1914 – December 7, 2006) was an educator and political figure in British Columbia. He represented Fort George in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1953 to 1972 as a Social Credit member. ...

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Vancouver East Vancouver East (french: Vancouver-Est) is a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that has been represented in the House of Commons of Canada since 1935. It is currently represented by New Democratic Party MP Jenny Kwan. The ...

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Arthur James Turner Arthur James Turner, CBE, FTI (1889 – October 1971) was a British scientist who worked in the field of textile technology. He was the first director of the Technological Laboratory created by the Indian Central Cotton Committee (ICCC) in Bom ...

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Philip Arthur Gaglardi Philip Arthur Gaglardi (January 13, 1913 – September 23, 1995), sometimes known as Flying Phil, was a politician in the Canadian province of British Columbia. He is best known for his service as Minister of Highways in the BC government fro ...

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Donald Frederick Robinson Donald Frederick Robinson (c. 1919 – January 9, 1997) was a Canadian politician. He served in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1956 to 1966, as a Social Credit member for the constituency of Lilloet. He died in Calgary, A ...

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Lillooet Lillooet () is a district municipality in the Squamish-Lillooet region of southwestern British Columbia. The town is on the west shore of the Fraser River immediately north of the Seton River mouth. On BC Highway 99, the locality is by road abo ...

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Oak Bay Oak Bay is a municipality incorporated in 1906 that is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, in the Canadian province of British Columbia. It is one of thirteen member municipalities of the Capital Regional District, and is bordered ...

Liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * a supporter of liberalism ** Liberalism by country * an adherent of a Liberal Party * Liberalism (international relations) * Sexually liberal feminism * Social liberalism Arts, entertainment and m ...

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Nanaimo and the Islands Nanaimo is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada. Demographics Geography The riding contains most of the city of Nanaimo plus the uninhabited Five Finger Island, Snake Island and Hu ...

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George Frederick Thompson Gregory George Frederick Thompson Gregory, DSC (September 10, 1916 – April 14, 1973) was a lawyer, judge and political figure in British Columbia. He represented Victoria City in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1953 to 1960 as ...

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Wesley Drewett Black Wesley Drewett Black (November 27, 1910 – January 10, 2000) was an educator and political figure in British Columbia. He represented Nelson-Creston in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1952 to 1972 as a Social Credit member ...

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Nelson-Creston Nelson-Creston is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada. It made its first appearance on the hustings in the general election of 1933 following a redistribution of the earlier Nelson riding. ...

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Cyril Morley Shelford Cyril Morley Shelford (April 8, 1921 – November 8, 2001) was a rancher, author and political figure in British Columbia. He represented Omineca from 1952 to 1972 and Skeena from 1975 to 1979 in the Legislative Assembly of British Colum ...

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William Harvey Murray William Harvey Murray (September 2, 1916 – July 7, 1991) was a political figure in British Columbia, Canada. He represented Prince Rupert in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1956 to 1972 as a Social Credit member. He w ...

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Robert Edward Sommers Robert Edward Sommers (January 3, 1911 – October 28, 2000) was a Canadians, Canadian elementary school principal and a politician. Sommers served as a British Columbia Social Credit Party, Social Credit Member of the Legislative Assembly ...

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Rossland-Trail Rossland-Trail was the name of a provincial electoral district in the Canadian province of British Columbia centred on the towns of Rossland and Trail, in the West Kootenay. The riding first appeared in the 1924 election as the result of a redistr ...

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James Allan Reid James Allan Reid (May 8, 1897 – March 2, 1978) was a Canadian politician. He served in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1952 to 1960 from the electoral district of Salmon Arm Salmon Arm is a city in the Columbia Shuswap ...

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Salmon Arm Salmon Arm is a city in the Columbia Shuswap Regional District of the Southern Interior of the Canadian province of British Columbia that has a population of 17,706 (2016). Salmon Arm was incorporated as a municipal district on May 15, 1905. The ...

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William Andrew Cecil Bennett William Andrew Cecil Bennett (September 6, 1900 – February 23, 1979) was a Canadian politician. He was the 25th premier of British Columbia from 1952 to 1972. With just over 20 years in office, Bennett was and remains the longest-serving prem ...

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South Okanagan South Okanagan was a provincial electoral district in the Canadian province of British Columbia beginning with the election of 1916. Following the 1975 election boundary revisions accompanied the riding's renaming to Okanagan South. The riding ...

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South Peace River South Peace River was a provincial electoral district in the Canadian province of British Columbia. It was first contested in the general election of 1956 and last contested in the general election of 1986. It and neighbouring North Peace River ...

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Eric Charles Fitzgerald Martin Eric Charles Fitzgerald Martin (September 15, 1905 – April 23, 1973) was an accountant, stock broker and political figure in British Columbia. He represented Vancouver-Burrard in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1952 to 1 ...

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Vancouver-Burrard Vancouver-Burrard was a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada. It first appeared on the hustings in the 1933 general election and included the neighbourhoods of Kitsilano and Fairview. This ver ...

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Herbert Price Sir Herbert Price, 1st Baronet (1605 – 14 January 1678) was a Welsh politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1640 and 1678. He fought on the Royalist side in the English Civil War. Price was the second son of Thomas P ...

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Vancouver Centre Vancouver Centre (french: Vancouver-Centre) is a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that has been represented in the House of Commons of Canada since 1917. It is the riding with the biggest Japanese community in Canada. As ...

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Frederick Morton Sharp Frederick Morton Sharp (January 22, 1911 – October 18, 2002) was a Canadian politician. He served in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia is the deliberative assembly of the Pa ...

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Thomas Audley Bate Thomas Audley Bate (March 12, 1913 – September 21, 1967) was a Canadian politician. He served in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia is the deliberative assembly of the Parliamen ...

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Vancouver-Point Grey Vancouver-Point Grey is a provincial electoral district (Canada), electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada. It was first contested in the 1933 British Columbia general election, general election of 1933. It was ...

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Irvine Finlay Corbett Irvine Finlay Corbett (February 12, 1915 – October 7, 1986) was a Canadian former politician. He served in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1952 to 1963, as a Social Credit member for the constituency of Yale. He died in 1986 ...

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Yale Yale University is a private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and among the most prestigious in the wor ...

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Elections BC
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Results

Results by riding

See also