Newly elected benchers will hold their roles for two years effective January 1, 2026
The Law Society of British Columbia will be conducting its 2025 bencher elections on November 18.
Elected benchers will be in the positions for two years. The term begins on January 1, 2026 and concludes on December 31, 2027.
The Law Society closed the nominations window recently. It will publish candidates’ election materials before voting begins on November 10. The voting period ends on November 17.
The elections are held under the rules laid out in the Legal Profession Act, Law Society Rules 1-20 to 1-44, and the Code of Professional Conduct.
The elections will take place in all districts that must hold them. In particular, contested elections will be conducted in Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo, Westminster, Kootenay and Prince Rupert.
Per a notice of acclamation, the following benchers are declared continued without election:
- District No. 4 (Westminster): 2026 president Thomas L. Spraggs hails from Westminster County so one less bencher will be elected in this district.
- District No. 6 (Okanagan): 2026 first vice-president Michael F. Welsh comes from this district so an election will not be conducted here.
- District No. 1 (Vancouver): 2026 second vice-president Katrina Harry hails from Vancouver County so one less bencher will be elected from this district.
In line with Law Society Rule 1-5(4), the president and the first and second vice presidents will remain benchers until their terms are finished.
The following benchers are elected by acclamation under Law Society Rule 1-24:
- Benjamin Levine and Georges Rivard for District No. 7 (Cariboo)
- Jay Michi for District No. 9 (Kamloops)
In total, each district will appoint the following number of benchers in this year’s elections:
- 12 benchers from District No. 1, the County of Vancouver
- 2 benchers from District No. 2, the County of Victoria
- 1 bencher from District No. 3, the County of Nanaimo
- 2 benchers from District No. 4, the County of Westminster
- 1 bencher from District No. 5, the County of Kootenay
- 2 benchers from District No. 7, the County of Cariboo
- 1 bencher from District No. 8, the County of Prince Rupert
- 1 bencher from District No. 9, Kamloops
