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Official results · October 21, 2026

Oak Bay election results 2026

A sunny winter street in Oak Bay, British Columbia, with two deer visible in the distance
Oak Bay on a sunny winter day, with two deer in the distance. Resized from the original. Photo: Alanarce / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0.

Quick answer

Kevin Murdoch was re-elected mayor of Oak Bay. The official council winners, by votes, are Hazel Braithwaite, Will Moore, Cairine Green, Roxanne Helme, Esther Paterson and David Gleeson.

Official results declared October 21, 2026, by the District of Oak Bay's chief election officer. Sources: District of Oak Bay declaration / CivicInfo BC.

By Oak Bay Local · · Updated

All times are Oak Bay local time, Pacific time.

Official · Nonpartisan · District of Oak Bay / CivicInfo BC

Mayor and council winners

The District of Oak Bay's results table lists 7,066 ballots from an estimated 14,539 eligible voters, about 48.6% turnout. The ballot count matches the official declaration and CivicInfo. The declaration itself does not state turnout. Source: District of Oak Bay.

Mayor

Kevin Murdoch, mayor of Oak Bay, wearing a dark suit, burgundy tie and the mayoral chain of office
Mayor Kevin Murdoch. Photo: District of Oak Bay.
Official Oak Bay mayor results, by votes, including the runner-up
CandidateResultVotesShare of ballots
Kevin MurdochElected5,231
Sam HollandDid not win a seat1,725

Council

Official Oak Bay council results, by votes, including the next three candidates
CandidateResultVotesShare of ballots
Hazel BraithwaiteElected5,095
Will MooreElected4,715
Cairine GreenElected4,357
Roxanne HelmeElected4,101
Esther PatersonElected3,928
David GleesonElected3,399
Karin SweeneyDid not win a seat2,933
Sarah StarkweatherDid not win a seat2,307
Katerina WellerDid not win a seat1,940

School District # 61 Trustee

Official result. Andrea Mears is declared elected. Sources: District of Oak Bay declaration and the SD61 declaration.

Official Oak Bay school-trustee results, by votes
CandidateResultVotes
Andrea MearsElected2,312
James ChaneyDid not win a seat1,499
Piers MacDonaldDid not win a seat1,450

District of Oak Bay declaration · SD61 declaration

Official results declared October 21, 2026, by the District of Oak Bay's chief election officer. Sources: District of Oak Bay declaration / CivicInfo BC.

This page covers Oak Bay's October 17 municipal election, not the October 24 provincial election.

Questions readers are asking

Who is the mayor of Oak Bay now?

Kevin Murdoch was re-elected mayor of Oak Bay with 5,231 votes (74%). These figures are official as of October 21, 2026.

Who won Oak Bay council 2026?

The six official council winners, by votes, are Hazel Braithwaite (5,095), Will Moore (4,715), Cairine Green (4,357), Roxanne Helme (4,101), Esther Paterson (3,928) and David Gleeson (3,399).

When are Oak Bay election results official?

Official results were declared October 21, 2026, by the District of Oak Bay's chief election officer. The council is sworn in at the inaugural meeting on Monday, November 2, 2026, at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers, per the declaration.

Who won the Oak Bay school trustee seat in 2026?

Andrea Mears was declared elected Oak Bay school trustee with 2,312 votes. James Chaney received 1,499 and Piers MacDonald received 1,450. Source: the District of Oak Bay declaration and the SD61 declaration, both dated October 21, 2026.

Who ran, and how voting worked

The nonpartisan guide below is the candidate list, dates and how-to-vote detail published before election day. It stays on this page.

Jump to a section

01 · Your voting plan

The dates worth putting in your calendar

Local voting took place on October 7, 14 and 17. The voting dates below are historical.

OCT072026

Advance voting · Past date

· 8 a.m.–8 p.m.

Monterey Recreation Centre

OCT142026

Advance voting · Past date

· 8 a.m.–8 p.m.

Monterey Recreation Centre

OCT172026

General voting · Past date

· 8 a.m.–8 p.m.

Monterey or Henderson Recreation Centre

Monterey

Monterey Recreation Centre
1442 Monterey Avenue
October 7, 14 and 17

Directions to Monterey

Henderson

Henderson Recreation Centre
2291 Cedar Hill X Road
October 17 only

Directions to Henderson

One easily missed detail: Henderson is a general-voting-day location. Both advance-voting days are at Monterey.

District of Oak Bay voting information

02 · The local ballot

Who is running

The District’s official notice lists two candidates for mayor, nine for council and three for the Oak Bay school-trustee seat. Names are alphabetical by surname within each office. The order is for finding people, not ranking them. Candidate websites contain the candidates’ own material; linking to them does not independently verify their claims. A missing link means we have not verified a current one.

14 of 14 candidates shown · alphabetical by surname in each office

Mayor

One seat

Councillors

Six seats

School trustee

One seat · SD61, Oak Bay Electoral Area 7

Official candidate declaration and election notice

A change for the school-trustee ballot

If you remember choosing from a district-wide list, this election will look different. SD61 has moved to seven trustee electoral areas. The board still has nine seats overall; Oak Bay elects one trustee.

SD61’s explanation of the new electoral model (PDF)

03 · Marking it

How the ballot works

For mayor and council, mark up to one mayor and up to six different councillors. You do not rank candidates, and you do not have to use every available council vote. Follow the instructions on the ballot, and ask an election official if anything is unclear. Marking more candidates than the seats available invalidates that contest’s ballot.

Want to try it before the real thing? Here is a practice ballot with the real names, in the official order.

Practice ballot

Not a poll. Nothing you mark leaves this page.

MayorVote for up to one · 0 of 1 used
CouncillorsVote for up to six · 0 of 6 used
School trusteeVote for up to one · 0 of 1 used

Tap a name to mark it. Tap again to change your mind.

Local Government Act, sections 115 and 139

04 · Before you go

Can I vote?

To vote as an Oak Bay resident elector, you must:

  • Be a Canadian citizen and at least 18 on October 17.
  • Have lived in B.C. for at least six months immediately before registering.
  • Live in Oak Bay when you register.
  • Not be disqualified by law.

You do not have to own your home to qualify as a resident elector.

Eligibility and registration requirements

Not registered? You can register when you vote.

Bring two pieces of identification showing identity and residency, including at least one with a signature. Photo ID is not required. The District says voters already on the voters list do not have to provide proof of identification.

District election FAQs, including ID

Own property here but live elsewhere?

Separate non-resident-property rules apply. Check your circumstances with election staff rather than assuming property ownership gives you every ballot. The District says non-residents cannot vote for the Oak Bay SD61 trustee.

Non-resident guidance

05 · The envelope route

Voting by mail without a last-minute scramble

Mail-ballot applications closed on October 6 at 4:30 p.m. Packages could be collected at Municipal Hall or mailed to you. If collecting your own package, wait for the ready notification and bring one piece of photo ID. This pickup requirement is separate from registration ID at the polls.

For this election, completed packages had to be returned by mail or deliver it to Municipal Hall, 2167 Oak Bay Avenue, Victoria, BC V8R 1G2. The District also accepted completed packages at voting locations during voting hours.

The deadline was received by 8 p.m. on October 17, regardless of how the package travels. The District’s instructions include an after-hours mail slot at the Oak Bay Avenue entrance to Municipal Hall. Read the current return instructions before making the trip.

Official mail-ballot instructions

During voting, if you had requested a package but had not received or returned it, you could still vote in person. Local voting is now closed.

District mail-voting FAQs

06 · Help is available

Need help at the voting place?

The District says all voting locations are wheelchair accessible. Election officials can help with marking a ballot; someone accompanying you may also assist under the required declaration.

Curbside voting is available at all voting opportunities. Park in a designated curbside voting stall, then call the posted number or ask someone accompanying you to notify staff inside.

For an accommodation or an unusual registration situation, ask election staff ahead of your visit.

Oak Bay election staff

elections@oakbay.ca
250-598-3311

Accessibility enquiries: 250-370-7208, non-statutory weekdays, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Official accessibility and assistance information

07 · Hear them first

Meet the candidates before voting

These are community-hosted events. Check the organiser’s page before heading out; a scheduled forum does not guarantee every candidate will attend.

Municipal candidates fair

Tuesday, October 6, 7–9 p.m.
Oak Bay United Church Community Hall, 1355 Mitchell Street. The venue specifies the level-ground Granite Street entrance.

Venue’s event listing

Oak Bay–Gordon Head MLA forum

Thursday, October 8, 7 p.m.
Oak Bay High theatre, 2121 Cadboro Bay Road. This one is for the October 24 provincial election, not the local ballot.

Organiser’s event listing

Oak Bay school-trustee forum

Tuesday, October 13, 7 p.m.
Dave Dunnet Community Theatre at Oak Bay High, 2121 Cadboro Bay Road.

Organiser’s event listing

District listing

08 · The roles

What the jobs involve

Mayor and council

B.C. municipal councils make decisions collectively about local services and municipal affairs. The mayor has additional leadership responsibilities, but each council member, including the mayor, has one vote.

B.C.’s explanation of mayor and councillor roles

School trustee

Trustees work as a board on school-district policy, budgets and strategic direction. An individual trustee cannot make the board’s decisions alone. Their responsibility extends to students throughout the district.

BC School Trustees Association’s role guide, hosted by SD61 (PDF)

A useful question for any promise: who else needs to agree? Council colleagues, another government, a school board or a funding partner may be part of the answer.

09 · Your homework

A little homework beyond the lawn signs

A campaign promise becomes easier to assess when you can see its cost, authority and timetable. Here are some starting points. These are background reading and questions, not a scorecard.

Taxes and the budget

The District’s 2026 budget page reports an 8.42% municipal tax increase. That figure describes the municipal budget; it is not a prediction of the change on every household’s bill.

2026 budget and financial plan

Questions worth asking: Which service or project would change? Is the proposed spending one-time or ongoing? What pays for it, and what would be delayed or reduced instead?

Housing and planning

Oak Bay’s housing work includes local planning choices and provincial requirements. Its infill program was introduced through bylaw amendments in June 2024 in response to small-scale multi-unit housing legislation.

District infill-housing program

Questions worth asking: Which rule would the candidate change? Can council make that change itself? How would the proposal affect approvals, infrastructure and the homes that actually get built? Keep a proposed home, an approved home and a completed home in separate columns.

The infrastructure underneath everyday life

Water pipes are unlikely to win a lawn-sign design contest. They do, however, need a plan.

The District’s asset-management work covers long-term replacement and funding for infrastructure. Its current resource page includes a 2026 capital-planning framework, as well as the earlier sustainable replacement plan.

Asset-management plans and reports

Questions worth asking: Which assets come first, and why? What evidence sets that order? How will replacement be funded, and what is the cost or risk of waiting?

Checking a claim

Start with the document behind it. A motion, a staff recommendation, a council decision and a completed project are different things. When checking a past decision, read the surrounding item and its date rather than relying on a clipped quote.

Oak Bay council meetings, agendas and minutes

10 · A separate election

And the provincial election

The October 24 provincial election elects MLAs to the B.C. Legislature. Its advance-voting dates are October 16–21. Provincial registration, mail-ballot rules and voting locations are separate from the municipal arrangements above.

Don’t assume your municipal voting place is also your provincial voting place.

The Community Association of Oak Bay hosts an Oak Bay–Gordon Head MLA all-candidates forum on Thursday, October 8 at 7 p.m. in the Oak Bay High theatre.

Organiser’s event listing

Elections BC’s provincial election page

Provincial voting options

Read Oak Bay Local: Oak Bay votes twice in October

11 · The count

Results

Official mayor, council and school-trustee results are in the table at the top of this page. The District remains the official source for the local count. Official results were declared October 21, 2026.

Declaration of Official Election Results [PDF]

Official Oak Bay election page

B.C. result rules, sections 144–146

12 · How this guide is made

Sources, method & corrections

This is a nonpartisan voter-service page. The mayor, council and school-trustee counts at the top were checked October 21, 2026, against the District of Oak Bay official declaration and CivicInfo BC. Turnout (7,066 ballots from an estimated 14,539 eligible voters) comes from the District results table. The official declaration does not state a turnout percent. The ballot count matches the declaration and CivicInfo.

If a declared count differs from a figure published here, we will add a dated correction that names the earlier number. We will not silently rewrite an unofficial figure after the official declaration.

The candidate list, dates and how-to-vote sections below were last checked October 5, 2026. Those sections stay on this page as the record of who ran and how voting worked. Election procedures come from the District of Oak Bay and Elections BC. The school-trustee structure comes from SD61. This page does not rank candidates or recommend a vote.

Spotted an error? Email a correction to Oak Bay Local with the detail and its source. Substantive corrections will be noted here.

Correction log: October 21, 2026: Official results declared. No vote counts changed from the unofficial figures published October 18 and 19.