Haji Charania Family Bursary
This award is being established by Mr. Haji Charania and the family. The Charanias deeply value education, good moral conduct, good personal character and community service. Haji, his three children and one of his son-in-laws are UVic alumni and his wife, Rashna, was the assistant manager of The University Club, University of Victoria, for 30 years before she retired in 2011.
Haji is a professional engineer. He retired from his role as a director of project management/project development with the British Columbia Building Corporation in 2003. He holds his Bachelor of Technology (Honours) from the Indian Institute of Technology from Bombay (now Mumbai), India; his Master of Applied Science from the University of British Columbia and his Diploma in Public Administration and Certificate in Business Administration from the University of Victoria.
Community is also very important to the Charanias. Haji serves as Chair of the Board of Variance in the District of Saanich and is a co-founder of the North Quadra Community Association. He has been a volunteer member of numerous causes and programs including the Saanich Police Board, the Victoria Airport Authority Board, and the Saanich Volunteer Services Society Board. Haji is currently serving Saanich Volunteer Services Society as a volunteer and shares his knowledge and experience with youths by serving as a volunteer with Junior Achievement BC.
In 2005, Haji received the President's Community Services Award from the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC; in 2006, he received the Victoria Leadership Award; in 2012, he received a Diamond Jubilee medal for his community service and in 2016, he received a BC Community Achievement Award in recognition for his years of dedicated volunteerism and community service. His wife, Rashna , has also served as a volunteer for many organizations including being the treasurer of the University of Victoria Retirees Association. Currently, she volunteers for Santa's Anonymous and serves on the Board of Disaster Aid Canada, the Jolly Nyeko Canada Foundation Board and is the treasurer of the Rotary Club of Saanich.
The Charania family hopes this bursary will provide recipients with not only financial support but also encouragement to stay focused on attainting their scholastic goals and aspire to serve the community.