First Annual Joseph Maku Memorial Ceremony

A couple of weeks back Sportswave donated our time to live stream a basketball game at the North Delta Secondary School in memory of a young many who passed away.

While the stream never went as we were expecting due to issues out of our control which the school is aware of and it’s our hopes that the issues will be rectified for the event next year – here’s hoping?

I asked Jaskaran Dhanda North Delta Secondary Athletic Director & Science Teacher to put a story together for us so we could have his legacy live on which was sent on.

Enjoy the read:  

North Delta Secondary School hosted the first annual Joseph Maku Memorial Ceremony and 3 vs 3 Basketball Tournament on November 14th and 15th. In honour of Joseph Maku, an amazing student-athlete who left us far too early.

Joseph was part of the North Delta graduating class of 2025 and the Immaculate Conception graduating class of 2019. 

In both communities, he was an integral member, making major contributions academically, socially and athletically. 

At North Delta Secondary, Joseph was a key member of the Senior Boys Basketball team, helping them win the South Fraser AAA Boys Basketball Championships in 2024 and 2025, as well as finishing 4th and 5th in the BC AAA Boys Basketball Provincials. 

In the classroom, 

Joseph was an honour roll student, achieving an average of 90% and earning prestigious scholarships, including the Cmolik Foundation Scholarship for students who are leaders in their community and who have faced adversity and financial hardship. 

Joseph was accepted to UBC, where he studied kinesiology and became an active member of the university community by volunteering as a referee for youth basketball. 

He was a person who went out of his way to connect with others. 

His charismatic personality allowed him to connect with people from all walks of life.  Joseph was truly an inclusive human being.

Joseph’s passing last year deeply impacted our communities, as he represented so much of what made them special; humility, respect, and leadership. 

To honour Joseph and create a scholarship in his name, his family, alongside three of his former teachers; Ms. Robyn Cleaver, Ms. Christen Burnett, Mr. Jaskaran Dhanda, and his friends; Suraphel Bogale, Geetansh Kapil, Armaan Mahli, Amar Lalli and Dilshan Tiwana organized a ceremony and the tournament to raise funds.

The ceremony highlighted the remarkable person Joseph was, with family members, teachers, and friends sharing heartfelt stories in his memory. 

It was an opportunity for the community to come together to celebrate, mourn and heal. 

The true beauty of North Delta Secondary is the families and staff that shape it. 

The phrase “Once a husky, always a husky” is a motto our school truly represents. 

The tournament had several friends, family members, high school students, and alumni who participated in 3 vs 3 basketball games and each participant donated at least $10 for the scholarship. 

In total, the tournament raised more than $5,000. The proceeds will go toward an endowment fund to support the Joseph Maku Memorial Scholarship.

Each year, a North Delta graduate, who embodies the same characteristics as Joseph and faces financial adversity, will receive a $1,000 scholarship. 

In this way, Joseph will forever live on, not only in our memories, but through our continued actions and the values he represented.