The Honourable
John Robert Nicholson
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, New Brunswick
DiedOctober 8, 1983(1983-10-08) (aged 81)
Political partyLiberal
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 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 % ±%
Liberal Jack R. Nicholson 9,008 40.08 +0.75
Progressive Conservative Douglas Jung 6,248 27.80 -2.73
New Democratic Lyle Kristiansen 5,184 23.07 -1.13
Social Credit William John McIntyre 1,806 8.04 +2.10
Independent Social Credit James B. Wisbey 228 1.01 –
Total valid votes 22,474 100.0  
Liberal hold Swing +1.74


1963 Canadian federal election: Vancouver Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Jack R. Nicholson 9,472 39.33 +3.73
Progressive Conservative Douglas Jung 7,353 30.53 -0.94
New Democratic Margaret Erickson 5,826 24.19 +0.54
Social Credit Bevis Walters 1,430 5.94 -2.29
Total valid votes 24,081 100.0  
Liberal hold Swing +2.34


1962 Canadian federal election: Vancouver Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Jack R. Nicholson 7,697 35.61 +18.43
Progressive Conservative Douglas Jung 6,803 31.47 -29.95
New Democratic Margaret Erickson 5,113 23.65 +9.73
Social Credit F. George J. Hahn 1,779 8.23 +3.60
Independent Burton V. White 224 1.04 –
Total valid votes 21,616 100.0  
Liberal gain from Progressive Conservative Swing +24.19
Change for the New Democrats is based on the Co-operative Commonwealth.

External links

Political offices Preceded byMartial Asselin Minister of Forestry 1963–1964 Succeeded byMaurice Sauvé
Lieutenant governors of British Columbia
Postmasters General
Ministers of Labour
Ministers of Citizenship and Immigration
Authority control databases
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