Pradeep Khare was a dedicated public servant, engineer, mentor, community volunteer, and proud Canadian whose life exemplified the values of education, service, leadership, and cross-cultural exchange.
Born and raised in India, after graduating from IIT Roorkee with a Chemical Engineering degree, Pradeep came to Canada in 1972 on a scholarship to pursue a Master of Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan. He went on to build an accomplished career in public service while raising two kids with his wife, Chitra Khare.
Throughout his career, Pradeep held numerous senior leadership positions including:
Assistant Deputy Minister with the Government of British Columbia
Chief Operating Officer, National Energy Board of Canada
Director General, BC/Yukon Region
Board member of IC-IMPACTS
Vice President and board member of the Water Environment Federation (WEF), becoming one of the first Canadians to hold such a position Board judge and volunteer with organizations including Engineers and Geoscientists BC (PEng), BC Water & Waste Association, AMSSA, and others
Pradeep was passionate about mentoring students and young professionals and strongly believed in the transformative power of education, volunteerism, and community service. He was also an author, publishing An Immigrant's Tale, a memoir reflecting on his journey from India to Canada and the opportunities, challenges, and lessons encountered along the way.
In 2015, Pradeep passed away suddenly from cancer at the age of 65.
To honour his legacy, his wife and children established the Pradeep Khare Memorial Scholarship in 2016. The family worked closely with mentors and community members, including Dr. Nemy Banthia of IC-IMPACTS, to develop a rigorous scholarship program that would reflect Pradeep's values and lifelong commitment to learning and service.
Since its inception, the scholarship has:
Awarded more than $55,000 to deserving students over ten years
Supported multiple recipients annually
Developed a comprehensive application and selection process involving essays, academic plans, résumés, and interviews
Continuously evolved and improved its evaluation process each year
The scholarship is open to students of Indian descent (born in India or having lived there for a significant period) who are pursuing graduate studies at a recognized Canadian post-secondary institution.
Over the past decade, reviewing applications has been a privilege for the family. The scholarship has introduced them to exceptional students whose academic achievements, leadership, volunteerism, and community contributions continue to make a meaningful difference across Canada and beyond.
The Pradeep Khare Memorial Scholarship exists not only to support students financially, but also to celebrate and promote the values that guided Pradeep's life: education, leadership, volunteerism, community service, diversity, and cross-cultural understanding.