Norman Kwong
Our newest Heritage Minute celebrates Norman Kwong, the first CFL player of Chinese heritage and 4x Grey Cup winner.
Born in Calgary in 1929, Norman Kwong’s family ran a grocery store located in the historic Bridgeland-Riverside community. Kwong started his professional football career one year after the end of the Chinese Exclusion Act, when Chinese Canadians were granted the right to vote in federal elections.
Kwong was the first CFL player of Chinese heritage, playing first for Calgary and then for Edmonton. During the 43rd Grey Cup, he helped defeat Montreal 34-19. After his football career he was part-owner of the Calgary Flames hockey team, and he would become lieutenant-governor of Alberta in 2005.
Credits:
Norman Kwong: Patrick Kwok-Choon
End Narrator: Andrew Phung
Director: Yung Chang
1st Assistant Director: Esteban Sanchez
Director of Photography: Alan Poon
Camera Operator: Chris Chow
Editor: Nina Staum
Composer: Tanya Wan Lim
Casting director: Betty Tong
Production designer: Paul Healy
Wardrobe designer: Jayna Mansbridge
Hair & Makeup: Libertee Muzyka
Written by Yung Chang
Producers: Brent Kawchuk, Michelle Wong & Sherra Bridgewater
Produced by Danny Rocket Productions
Thank you to William F. White International, Calgary Co-op, and Monarque Entertainment for donating their services.