January 19, 2005
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Paul Martin today announced the appointment of Mr. Norman Kwong as the new Lieutenant-Governor for the province of Alberta.

“Norman Kwong is an inspiration for many Canadians,” said the Prime Minister. “His many contributions, as a professional athlete, as a business person and as a prominent figure in society, speak to his commitment to the people of Alberta. He will serve his province and his country well.”

Born in Calgary in 1929 to Chinese immigrants, Mr. Kwong becomes Alberta’s first Lieutenant-Governor of Asian heritage. In 1948, he also became the first Chinese Canadian to play in the Canadian Football League. During his CFL career, he won four Grey Cups, including three consecutive championships (1954-55-56) with the Edmonton Eskimos. He was named Canadian Athlete of the Year in 1955 and since then, his skill and sportsmanship have been recognized via his induction into the CFL Hall of Fame (1969), the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame (1975), and the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame (1980).

Mr. Kwong is a member of the Order of Canada (1988). In 1979-80, he was the National Chairman of the Canadian Consultative Council on Multiculturalism. He has also served as Honorary Chairman of the Calgary Easter Seal campaign.