The high commissioner for Canada in the Republic of India is the official representative of the Government of Canada to the Government of India.
The current Canadian high commissioner is Christopher Cooter, who was appointed on the advice of Prime Minister Mark Carney on August 28, 2025. As members of the Commonwealth of Nations, diplomatic relations between Canada and India are at governmental level, rather than between heads of state. Thus, the countries exchange high commissioners, rather than ambassadors.
The High Commission of Canada is located at 7/8 Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110 021, India.
History of diplomatic relations
Diplomatic relations between Canada and India were established on April 6, 1945. John Doherty Kearney was appointed as Canada's first high commissioner in India on December 23, 1946, and presented his credentials on April 27, 1947.
List of heads of mission No.NameTerm of officeCareerPrime Minister nominated by Start Date End Date1John Doherty KearneyDecember 23, 1946April 27, 1947Non-CareerW. L. Mackenzie King(1935–1948)2Warwick Fielding ChipmanMarch 31, 1949December 16, 1949Non-CareerLouis St. Laurent(1948–1957)3Escott Meredith ReidJuly 31, 1952November 21, 1952May 4, 1957Career4Chester Alvin RonningMarch 7, 19571964Career–Edward Rose Rettie(Acting High Commissioner)1964September 7, 1964CareerLester B. Pearson(1963–1968)5Daniel Roland MichenerJuly 9, 1964September 7, 1964April 12, 1967Non-Career–Douglas Barcham Hicks(Acting High Commissioner)April 12, 1967October 21, 1967Career6James GeorgeJuly 17, 1967October 21, 1967August 20, 1972Career7Bruce MacGillivray WilliamsJune 8, 1972September 23, 1972July 2, 1974CareerPierre Elliott Trudeau(1968–1979 & 1980–1984)8John Ryerson MaybeeJune 13, 1974September 26, 1974May 31, 1977Career9Robert Louis RogersJuly 14, 1977September 24, 1977August 23, 1979Career10John Gaylard HadwenApril 4, 1979October 26, 1979August 25, 1973Career11William Thomas WardenOctober 13, 1983August 1986Career12James Gordon HarrisJuly 23, 1986October 9, 1986October 7, 1991CareerBrian Mulroney(1984–1993)13John Lawrence PaynterJanuary 3, 1991Career14Stanley Edward GoochAugust 16, 1994October 4, 1994September 1997CareerJean Chrétien(1993–2003)15Peter F. WalkerOctober 30, 1997November 27, 1997August 22, 2000Career16Peter SutherlandSeptember 22, 2000October 23, 2000August 31, 2003Career17Lucie Geneviève EdwardsJuly 31, 2003November 24, 2003August 2, 2006Career–Ping M. Kitnikone(Consul General)May 19, 2004April 18, 2005CareerPaul Martin(2003–2006)18David M. MaloneJuly 13, 2006September 12, 2006June 28, 2008CareerStephen Harper(2006–2015)19Joseph CaronSeptember 2, 2008November 10, 2008June 11, 2010Career20Stewart BeckSeptember 20, 2010December 8, 2010July 13, 2014Career21Nadir PatelOctober 3, 2014January 16, 2015June 10, 2021Career22Cameron MacKayDecember 20, 2021March 16, 2022CareerJustin Trudeau(2015–2025)23Christopher CooterAugust 28, 2025CareerMark Carney(2025–)
References
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