The family of the late Winnipeg Sea Bears captain, Chad Posthumus, expressed their pride in the dedication of a new court in his memory at the North Kildonan recreation center where he began his basketball journey. The Chad Posthumus Memorial Court was officially unveiled at the Gateway Recreation Centre on Gateway Road, a moment cherished by Posthumus’s mother, Diana. She highlighted Chad’s enthusiasm for basketball and how he represented his community with passion, starting from his early days playing with the Winnipeg Minor Basketball Association at age nine.
Born and raised in Winnipeg, Chad played for the River East Collegiate Kodiaks in high school before pursuing a professional basketball career in Ottawa and Saskatchewan. Upon his return to Winnipeg, Chad became the first player signed by the Sea Bears when the Canadian Elite Basketball League expanded to the city in 2023. Tragically, Chad passed away in 2024 due to complications from a brain aneurysm suffered during a training session.
His jersey number, 33, was retired by the Sea Bears in his honor at their home opener, and a section of Donald Street was renamed Chad Posthumus Way. Sea Bears owner David Asper remembered Chad as the “soul of the franchise,” emphasizing the profound impact of his loss on the team. The establishment of the memorial court at the Gateway Recreation Centre is part of a larger project that includes new pickleball courts, pathways, bike racks, and seating areas, funded predominantly by municipal programs and the province’s sustainable communities fund.
Mayor Scott Gillingham and Rossmere MLA Tracy Schmidt both praised Chad’s positive influence on the community, with Schmidt describing him as an inspiration and leader. Asper expressed gratitude for the enduring legacy of Chad Posthumus, both on and off the basketball court, emphasizing the team’s honor in having him as a part of their organization.