Saanich North and the Islands: candidates in the 2026 BC election
4 candidates are on the ballot in Saanich North and the Islands for the provincial election on Saturday, October 24, 2026. They are listed by last name.
Answer 16 short questions to see which party, and which of these candidates, is closest to your views. Available in 9 languages.
Take the quizCandidates
Kala Bryson
BC NDP
Lawyer and community advocate focused on access to justice. University of Victoria law graduate.
Sources: Elections BC candidate list (2026), CHEK News: All Vancouver Island candidates for the 2026 B.C. election
Emily Lowan
BC Greens
Leader of the BC Greens since 2025, raised on the Saanich Peninsula. Former researcher at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives; led coalitions at Climate Action Network Canada.
Sources: Elections BC candidate list (2026), CHEK News: All Vancouver Island candidates for the 2026 B.C. election
Richard Smith
CentreBC
Research scientist and project manager with a UBC PhD who managed life science projects for Defence R&D Canada and Canadian Forces Health Services.
Sources: Elections BC candidate list (2026), CHEK News: All Vancouver Island candidates for the 2026 B.C. election
Ryan Windsor
BC Conservatives
Mayor of Central Saanich since 2014 (councillor from 2013) and former Capital Regional District director.
Sources: Elections BC candidate list (2026), CHEK News: All Vancouver Island candidates for the 2026 B.C. election
Candidate list from Elections BC, as of October 18, 2026.
About the riding
Saanich North and the Islands takes in Sidney, North Saanich, Central Saanich (Brentwood Bay, Saanichton), Southern Gulf Islands (Salt Spring, Pender, Mayne, Galiano, Saturna).
In 2024, Rob Botterell (BC Greens) won here by 1,350 votes, 3.9 points.
Rob Botterell (Green) announced Sept 23, 2026 he is not seeking re-election; Green leader Emily Lowan is running here.
Questions for Vancouver Island and the Coast
Everyone answers 13 province-wide questions. Voters in Vancouver Island and the Coast also get these 3:
- BC Ferries has cancelled sailings, long waits, rising demand and a dispute over where ships are built. What should come first?
- The Crofton pulp mill has closed, and old-growth logging is still argued over on the Island. What should be done with Island forests?
- Nanaimo's hospital tower and cardiac lab are funded for planning, not construction, and a Campbell River care home was paused. What should come first?
How and when to vote
- Voting day
- Saturday, October 24, 2026, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Pacific time.
- Advance voting
- Friday October 16 to Wednesday October 21, 2026, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time. Not every location is open every day; check yours.
- Where
- Find advance and election-day locations with the voting-place lookup on elections.bc.ca. District electoral offices also take voters until 4 p.m. on October 24. The October 17 municipal election is a separate vote with its own locations.
- Who can vote
- Canadian citizen, 18 or older on October 24, 2026, and a BC resident since April 23, 2026.
- By mail
- Request a vote-by-mail package online or by phone (1-800-661-8683) by October 18. Elections BC must receive it by 8 p.m. Pacific time on October 24 for it to be counted. If you are not registered or your voter information is out of date, prove your identity and address by uploading ID to Elections BC's ID upload system or by including photocopies of your ID with the returned package.
From Elections BC: ways to vote, vote by mail, 2026 provincial election key dates, who can vote, voter ID, Elections BC home.