News Release
For immediate release

Saanich, BC – As of 11:45 p.m. Saturday, October 17, Rishi Sharma has been elected as mayor and Lorne DeLarge, Nancy Di Castri, Colin Plant, Laurie Lidstone, Graham Wright, Matt McGeachie, Nathalie Chambers and Teale Phelps Bondaroff were elected as councillors for a four-year term at the District of Saanich.

The ballot included a public opinion question: "Do you support Saanich and Victoria becoming one municipality?"

Results were:

• No – 24,663 (67.96%)
• Yes – 11,626 (32.04%)

Trevor Barry and Tracy Humphreys were elected to the Office of School District 61 trustee. Karen MacEwan and Victoria Martin were elected to the Office of School District 63 trustee.

Preliminary results

All voting locations, including mobile polls and mail ballots have been processed to determine the preliminary results.

These results mark a significant increase in total votes as compared with previous elections:

• 2026 ballot count: 38,299 votes cast representing 42.74 per cent of Saanich’s eligible voters.
• 2022 ballot count: 27,975 votes cast representing 31.22 per cent of Saanich’s eligible voters.
• 2018 ballot count: 32,538 votes cast representing 38.26 per cent of Saanich’s eligible voters.

Preliminary election results for Office of Mayor:

• Rishi Sharma – 17,157 (45.31%)
• Zac De Vries – 14,785 (39.05%)
• Karen Harper – 5,299 (13.99%)
• Robin Morton Stanbridge – 624 (1.65%)

 Preliminary election results for Office of Councillor:

• Lorne DeLarge – 16,615 (6.66%) 
• Nancy Di Castri – 16,319 (6.54%)
• Colin Plant – 16,174 (6.49%)
• Laurie Lidstone – 15,389 (6.17%)
• Graham Wright – 15,101 (6.06%)
• Matt McGeachie – 14,591 (5.85%)
• Nathalie Chambers – 13,027 (5.22%)
• Teale Phelps Bondaroff – 12,735 (5.11%)
• Mauricio Curbelo – 12,631 (5.07%)
• Susan Brice – 11,462 (4.60%)
• Judy Brownoff – 10,473 (4.20%)
• Colette Baty – 9,428 (3.78%)
• Harjas Singh Popli – 9,020 (3.62%)
• Kathleen Burton – 9,015 (3.62%)
• Hollis Hodson – 7,490 (3.00%)
• Sasha Izard – 7,324 (2.94%)
• Don Cameron – 6,766 (2.71%)
• Erin Elizabeth Booth – 6,676 (2.68%)
• Garnett Humenick – 6,405 (2.57%)
• Jordon Weaver – 6,299 (2.53%)
• Finn Fairbairn – 5,990 (2.40%)
• Alli Deelstra – 5,005 (2.01%)
• Brendan Ralfs – 4,172 (1.67%)
• Noah Fruttarol – 3,771 (1.51%)
• Sierra Wicks-Irving – 3,303 (1.32%)
• Tia Sibbald – 2,613 (1.05%)
• Nic Renaud – 1,545 (0.62%)

“On behalf of the District of Saanich, I’d like to congratulate the newly elected officials and say thank you to all of the candidates,” said Chief Election Officer Angila Bains. “I’m grateful to all Saanich residents who took the time to vote, as well as am extremely thankful for all our amazing election volunteers who made this election happen. This year’s election received a very high voter turnout, which is a testament to how engaged our community is with its local governance. Thank you for making your voice heard, Saanich!”

Mayor and Councillors will be sworn in at the inaugural Council meeting on Monday, November 2, 2026.

Saanich included an informal poll on the ballot to provide guidance to Council to appoint four of its members as directors of the Capital Regional District (CRD). Not all candidates put their name forward to be appointed as a CRD director. The following are the preliminary results:

• Nancy Di Castri – 13,160 (9.95%)
• Lorne DeLarge – 12,966 (9.80%)
• Colin Plant – 12,418 (9.39%)
• Matt McGeachie – 10,536 (7.97%)
• Graham Wright – 10,310 (7.79%)
• Teale Phelps Bondaroff – 9,284 (7.02%)
• Susan Brice – 8,671 (6.56%)
• Nathalie Chambers – 8,507 (6.43%)
• Mauricio Curbelo – 7,626 (5.77%)
• Judy Brownoff – 7,511 (5.68%)
• Colette Baty – 5,985 (4.52%)
• Kathleen Burton – 5,432 (4.11%)
• Harjas Singh Popli – 4,885 (3.69%)
• Don Cameron – 3,844 (2.91%)
• Sasha Izard – 3,843 (2.91%)
• Jordan Weaver – 3,050 (2.31%)
• Alli Deelstra – 2,520 (1.91%)
• Brendan Ralfs – 1,730 (1.31%)

Preliminary election results for Office of School District 61 trustee:

• Trevor Barry – 10,044 (27.60%)
• Tracy Humphreys – 9,956 (27.35%)
• Samantha Latham – 8,503 (23.36%)
• Darren Companion – 7,894 (21.69%)

Preliminary election results for Office of School District 63 trustee:

• Karen MacEwan – 3,246 (33.53%)
• Victoria Martin – 2,681 (27.69%)
• Jordan Gerrard – 1,965 (20.30%)
• Teri Vanwell – 1,790 (18.49%)

Learn more

The declaration of official election results will be available by Wednesday, October 21. Rules and procedures for local government elections are set out in the Local Government Act and the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act.

For more information, please visit: saanich.ca/elections.

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Media contact:
Saanich Communications
media@saanich.ca