John Robert Nicholson

The Honourable
John Robert Nicholson
PC OBE QC
Official 1966 portrait
21st Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia
In office
July 2, 1968 – February 13, 1973
MonarchElizabeth II
Governor GeneralRoland Michener
PremierW. A. C. Bennett
Dave Barrett
Preceded byGeorge Pearkes
Succeeded byWalter Stewart Owen
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Vancouver Centre
In office
June 18, 1962 – June 25, 1968
Preceded byDouglas Jung
Succeeded byRon Basford
Personal details
Born(1901-12-01)December 1, 1901
Newcastle, NB, Canada
DiedOctober 8, 1983(1983-10-08) (aged 81)
Victoria, BC, Canada
PartyLiberal
EducationDalhousie University (LLB)
OccupationLawyer
CabinetMinister of Forestry (1963–1964)
Postmaster General (1964–1965)
Minister of Citizenship and Immigration (1965)
Minister of Labour (1965–1968)

John Robert "Jack" Nicholson, PC OBE QC (December 1, 1901 – October 8, 1983) was a Canadian lawyer, businessman, politician and the 21st Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia.

Born in Newcastle, New Brunswick (now Miramichi), he graduated from the Dalhousie University law school in Halifax. In 1924, he moved to Vancouver, British Columbia and practised law.

During World War II, he was a deputy controller in the Department of Munitions and Supplies. From 1942 to 1951, he was the head of a crown corporation, Polymer Corporation, and from 1952 to 1956, the head of Brazilian Light and Power Co in Rio de Janeiro.

In 1962, Nicholson was elected to the Canadian House of Commons for the riding of Vancouver Centre and was re-elected in 1963 and 1965. From 1963 to 1964, he was the Minister of Forestry. From 1964 to 1965, he was the Postmaster General. In 1965, he was the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. From 1965 to 1968, he was the Minister of Labour.

From 1968 to 1973, he served as the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia.

Electoral history

1965 Canadian federal election: Vancouver Centre
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalJohn Robert Nicholson9,00840.08+0.75
Progressive ConservativeDouglas Jung6,24827.80–2.73
New DemocraticLyle Kristiansen5,18423.07–1.13
Social CreditWilliam John McIntyre1,8068.04+2.10
Independent Social CreditJames B. Wisbey2281.01–
Total valid votes 22,47498.60
Total rejected ballots 3191.40+0.26
Turnout 22,79365.85–4.67
Eligible voters 34,615
Liberal hold Swing +1.74
Source: Library of Parliament
1963 Canadian federal election: Vancouver Centre
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalJohn Robert Nicholson9,47239.33+3.73
Progressive ConservativeDouglas Jung7,35330.53–0.94
New DemocraticMargaret Erickson5,82624.19+0.54
Social CreditBevis Walters1,4305.94–2.29
Total valid votes 24,08198.86
Total rejected ballots 2781.14–0.21
Turnout 24,35970.52+1.81
Eligible voters 34,541
Liberal hold Swing +2.34
Source: Library of Parliament
1962 Canadian federal election: Vancouver Centre
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalJohn Robert Nicholson7,69735.61+18.43
Progressive ConservativeDouglas Jung6,80331.47–29.95
New DemocraticMargaret Erickson5,11323.65+9.73
Social CreditGeorge Hahn1,7798.23+3.60
IndependentBurton V. White2241.04–
Total valid votes 21,61698.65
Total rejected ballots 2951.35+0.05
Turnout 21,91168.71+3.99
Eligible voters 31,890
Liberal gain from Progressive Conservative Swing +24.19
Change for the New Democrats is based on the Co-operative Commonwealth.
Source: Library of Parliament
  1. ↑ Canada, Library of Parliament (2026). "Elections and Ridings: Vancouver Centre, British Columbia (1965)". lop.parl.ca.
  2. ↑ Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (1965). Twenty-Seventh General Election, 1965: Report of the Chief Electoral Officer (Report). Ottawa: Queen's Printer. hdl:2027/umn.31951d013775845.
  3. ↑ Canada, Library of Parliament (2026). "Elections and Ridings: Vancouver Centre, British Columbia (1963)". lop.parl.ca.
  4. ↑ Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (1963). Twenty-Sixth General Election, 1963: Report of the Chief Electoral Officer (Report). Ottawa: Queen's Printer. hdl:2027/umn.31951d013775837.
  5. ↑ Canada, Library of Parliament (2026). "Elections and Ridings: Vancouver Centre, British Columbia (1962)". lop.parl.ca.
  6. ↑ Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (1962). Twenty-Fifth General Election, 1962: Report of the Chief Electoral Officer (Report). Ottawa: Queen's Printer. hdl:2027/uc1.a0004484481.