A public memorial service was held in Calgary on Tuesday afternoon to honour former Alberta Lieutenant Governor Norman Kwong who passed away earlier this month.
Kwong, 86, died in his sleep on September 3 and tributes for the CFL legend and long-time community leader have been pouring in from across the country.
The native Calgarian was one of six children born to Chinese immigrants Charles and Lily Kwong and he attended Western Canada High School in Calgary where he discovered football.
He joined the Stampeders as a halfback when he was just 18 and became the first Chinese Canadian to play in the CFL and the youngest to win a Grey Cup.
He went on to win three more cups with the Edmonton Eskimos and held over 30 CFL records when he retired from the league in 1960.
Kwong moved into business and was the President and General Manager of the Stampeders from 1988 to 1991. He was also co-owner of the Flames from 1980 to 1994.
He received the Order of Canada in 1998 and the Chancellor of the Alberta Order of Excellence in 2005 and served as chairman on a number of councils and campaigns.
At the age of 75, he was appointed Alberta’s 16th Lieutenant Governor, a position he held until 2012.
The state memorial service for Kwong was held at the First Alliance Church at 12345 - 40 Street S.E. and the ceremony was open to the public.
Books of condolences have been set up at the McDougall Centre in Calgary and the Alberta Legislature Rotunda in Edmonton. A condolence page has also been set up for online submissions HERE.
