Norman L. Kwong’s path to becoming a significant figure in Canadian sports and society as a Chinese Canadian speaks volumes about resilience and breaking barriers. In this week’s blog post, we will explore his remarkable life, including the challenges he faced and the success he achieved.
Early Life and Challenges
Norman Kwong (far right, front row) with high school classmates
Born in Calgary in 1929, Norman Kwong grew up in the Bridgeland-Riverside area, where his parents ran a grocery store. At that time, there were fewer than 5,000 Chinese Canadians in Alberta, mostly men due to the obstacles brought by the federal Head Tax, which made it challenging for families to reunite in Canada. Kwong’s mother was one of just five Chinese women in the province. In 1923, the government enacted the Chinese Immigration Act, commonly referred to as the Chinese Exclusion Act, effectively ceasing immigration from China. It wasn’t until 1947 that this legislation was repealed, finally granting Chinese Canadians the right to vote.
Certificate of payment of head tax by a Chinese immigrant named Chang Wing
Petition initiated by the Anti-Chinese Association in Victoria, 1880
Rise to Football Star
Kwong breaking through the defense for the Calgary Stampeders
Against the backdrop of prevalent racism and discrimination, Kwong found passion in football and joined the Calgary Stampeders in 1948, which was just a year after the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act. Not only did he become Canada’s first professional Chinese Canadian football player, but he also made history as the youngest player to win the championship in his first Grey Cup at the age of 18.
Several years later, Kwong joined the Edmonton Eskimos, where he made significant contributions to the team’s consecutive championship victories from 1954 to 1956. His outstanding performance during this period further solidified his reputation as one of the greatest players in Canadian Football League (CFL) history. Kwong also set 30 CFL records and was given the Schenley award for Most Outstanding Canadian two years in a row.
Photo of Edmonton Eskimos with the 1956 Grey Cup, winning it for the third consecutive year
Transition to Business and Community Leadership
After retiring from football in 1960, Kwong remained steadfast in his commitment to both the community and sports. He transitioned into roles such as president and general manager of the Calgary Stampeders and was part owner of the Calgary Flames during their Stanley Cup-winning years. In addition to his contributions to sports, Kwong was also a passionate advocate for multiculturalism and health and wellness in Alberta.
In 2005, Kwong made history again by becoming Alberta’s first Chinese Canadian lieutenant-governor, a position he held until 2010. Throughout his life, he received numerous honors and awards for his achievements, including induction into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and the Order of Canada. Norman Kwong’s legacy continues to inspire generations of Canadians.
Norman L. Kwong delivering a speech at the 1975 Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony
We hope you’ve enjoyed this brief introduction to the life of Norman Kwong. All the materials shared in this blogpost can be accessed through our open collections.
Thank you for reading!
References:
O’Leary, C. (May 23. 2022). O’Leary: Norman Kwong’s legacy stands tall over Canada. Canadian Football League. https://www.cfl.ca/2022/05/23/oleary-norman-kwongs-legacy-stands-tall-over-canada/.
Redmond. G. & Snyder, L. (May 28, 2021). Norman Kwong. The Canadian Encyclopedia.https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/norman-kwong.
Schwinghamer, S. (n.d.). Before and after 1923: Chinese Exclusion in Context. Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. https://pier21.ca/before-and-after-1923-chinese-exclusion-context.
Simons, P. (Sep 06, 2016). Paula Simons: A legend on and off the field, Norman Kwong played to win. Edmonton Journal. https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/paula-simons-a-legend-on-and-off-the-field-norman-kwong-played-to-win.
Wilson, D. F. (May 3, 2024). Asian heritage month: Norman Kwong. The Victoria Voice.https://thevictoriavoice.com/news/asian-heritage-month-norman-kwong.
