"It was always about giving back": Posthumus family reflects on son's King Charles Medal honour

Chad Posthumus left his mark on every court he stepped on. 

He played around the world, captured the inaugural CEBL Championship and proudly represented both Winnipeg and Canada at the highest level. The Sea Bears captain undoubtedly had countless triumphs still ahead of him when he tragically and unexpectedly passed away this past fall. 

But Chad’s life was never defined by anything he achieved on a basketball court. It was his spirit of kindness, energy and deep devotion to others that transformed the lives of everyone he touched and made him a true hero to his hometown. 

Chad’s spirit of service was recognized last month with the King Charles III Coronation Medal, an honour reserved for Canadians who have made significant contributions to their country, region or community.

His parents, Charles and Diana, were invited to a ceremony at Ralph Connor House on March 22 to accept the medal on behalf of their son. Raquel Dancho, MP for Kildonan – St. Paul, represented the federal government to present the award.

For his parents, it was a bittersweet opportunity to reflect on what an incredible impact Chad made on the community he grew up in.

“It really felt like a follow-up to all the work he had been doing in Winnipeg,” said Chad’s mother, Diana. “He embraced being back in the city, and he just always had that kind heart. That’s probably what made us most proud.”

The River East Collegiate graduate made history as the Sea Bears’ first-ever signing ahead of the team’s inaugural 2023 season. A captain and day-one starter for his new hometown team, Chad’s commanding interior presence anchored Winnipeg in their first campaign. But as much of a force as he was on the court, the way he transformed his community was what truly set him apart. 

Chad always brought his smiling presence to represent the Sea Bears at local events like Pride Week, the Manitoba Filipino Street Festival and community initiatives like Buckets and Borders’ refurbishments of the St. John’s Park and Mayfair Recreation Centre courts. He coached free basketball camps through Sea Bears Summer Series and spoke to K-12 youth about mental health through Project 11. Chad always took the extra time to sign an autograph, give a hug, or lift a child up to hang off the rim.

“He loved doing the camps with the kids, and I got to do a lot of those events with him,” Charles said. “I think a lot of the time he’d have more fun than they did,” he laughed with misty eyes.

His involvement with the Manitoba basketball community went far deeper than his affiliation with the Sea Bears. In his spare time, Chad often pitched in as a guest coach for Winnipeg Minor Basketball Association teams. He was a dedicated volunteer at local events like Hoopfest, Pros vs. Joes and Hoops from the Heart, lending a helping hand to various local programs and charities. Chad also worked closely with KidSport, helping to facilitate free camps for underserved youth.

“It was never about getting paid for anything. It was always about giving back,” said Diana. “He always quietly supported local grassroots basketball,” she continued. “He went to a bunch of high school games, he’d go to the provincial finals, he’d go to the Duckworth Challenge game between the Bisons and the Wesmen … that would be a date night for Chad and I,” she smiled.

Chad’s influence extended past the basketball court, too. Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at age seven, he remained a lifelong health advocate for those living with the condition. He took part in a Diabetes Canada mentorship program that matched him with younger children who had been recently diagnosed.

Even at that young age, Chad’s optimism and spirit helped inspire others to reach their full potential.

“He never sat still as a child, and that didn’t change, even after his diagnosis,” Diana remembered.  “He’d show those other kids, ‘Hey, I do all these things, and it shouldn’t hold you back, either.’”

That passion for supporting health and fitness was reflected in even Chad’s daily interactions. His parents say they’ve received dozens of messages from their son’s fellow gymgoers who, though initially strangers, were mentored by Chad throughout their fitness journeys. 

“He believed in getting people active and getting individuals to reach their health goals. He’d get these people’s numbers and text them, asking, ‘Were you at the gym today? What did you do?’”

Chad’s love of supporting others reached far beyond fitness. He did everything he could to help people, even those he didn’t know, in their professional pursuits, too.

“He was an entrepreneur,” described Diana. “He loved supporting new businesses, whether they were friends or not. He had such a big following on social media, and he was always happy to give them a shout-out, even when there was no gain for him.”

The pair estimate they’ve received over 2,000 messages explaining the impact their son had on his friends, former teammates and even complete strangers whose lives he touched through his kindness. 

One story that particularly stood out came from a friend who Chad had inspired to follow his dream of becoming a DJ. They shared with the Posthumus family: “I would’ve given up on my dream, but Chad pushed me. He told me, ‘If that’s your dream, you need to chase it.’ He helped me book my very first gigs.”

“He taught people how to chase their dreams, but he assisted them in chasing their dreams,” noted Diana.

One former teammate wrote to the family: “Chad was like a brother to me. You guys raised a man who was kind and loving for everyone.”



“He helped a lot of people,” Charles reflected. 

The communities that Chad touched have come together to honor his memory in powerful ways. In November, Canada’s senior men’s national team honored their teammate with a “CP” jersey patch during the team’s FIBA AmeriCup qualifying games. 

Locally, the WMBA announced that their annual community basketball celebration will now be known as the Posthumus Family Hoopfest, a lasting tribute to Chad’s influence and impact at the grassroots level of the sport. 

Basketball Manitoba has also established the Chad Posthumus Award, an annual scholarship recognizing two Grade 12 basketball players in Manitoba who embody Chad’s legacy through on-court excellence, resiliency, academic dedication and kindness to others. 

More than anything, his parents say, Chad’s life was defined by his zest for living and unwavering commitment to making each day count.

“He would say, ‘Don’t wait to do tomorrow what you can do today,’” Diana said. 

“When he first was going to go to UBC, I was like, ‘You’re a Type 1 diabetic — you need to stay home so I can watch you!’ And he said, ‘Mom, you’ve got to spread your wings and fly. You’re not going to grow if you stay in one place. You’ve got to reach out and live your life to its fullest.’”

“He did 33 years of that,” she added softly.

Charles described Chad’s spirit simply: “Give a person a smile – what’s the worst thing that’s going to happen? They’re probably going to smile back.”

For the larger than life seven-foot presence he was, Chad was never too big for anyone. He had a rare gift for making everyone around him feel seen and valued.

“One thing that everyone who’s ever met him will say is that once you were a friend with Chad, that lasted a lifetime.” 

From his unwavering community service to the countless lives he touched through his kindness, a medal can’t represent a fraction of what Chad Posthumus did for those lucky enough to have met him.

And above all, Winnipeg has a forever friend in number 33.