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Lim Kwong Yew, better known as Normie Kwong, was born in Calgary
in 1929. In the early 1900s, Normie's parents had immigrated to
Canada from Canton, China, despite the $500 head tax that Chinese
immigrants were forced to pay at this time. Legislation in Canada
designed to deal with the "Chinese problem" also put
Chinese immigrants at a disadvantage. These early Chinese
Canadians were barred from owning land and property, doing certain
jobs, and were denied the right to vote until 1947. Also, the
Chinese exclusion Law, which existed from 1923 to 1947, virtually
halted Chinese immigration to Canada disrupting the growth of the
Chinese community in Alberta.
Despite these types of obstacles, in 1948 Norman Kwong became the
first Chinese Canadian to play in the Canadian Football League. As
a fullback at 5'10 and 170 pounds, Normie gained the nickname of
the "China Clipper." His CFL career lasted thirteen
years in which he played in a total of 7 Grey Cup finals. During
his three seasons with the Calgary Stampeders, Normie won his
first Grey Cup becoming the youngest player to ever do so at the
age of 18. He also won three consecutive Grey Cups during the ten
years he spent with the Edmonton Eskimos.
Upon his retirement in 1960, Normie held over thirty CFL records
including rushing yardage in which he remains in 5th place as an
all-time leader. He had won the Schenley Award in 1955 and 1956 as
the CFL's most outstanding Canadian player, was an All Canadian
Fullback five times, and received the title of Canadian Athlete of
the Year in 1955. His skill and athleticism have also been
recognized through his induction into the CFL Hall of Fame, the
Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, and the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame.
After his retirement from football, Mr. Kwong remained in Calgary
where he and his wife Mary have raised four sons. He has stayed
active in the community both on and off the sports field. Normie
was the National Chairman of the Canadian Consultative Council on
Multiculturalism from 1979 to 1980 and has also served as the
Honorary Chairman for the Calgary Easter Seal Campaign. From 1988
to 1991 he returned to the Calgary Stampeders as General Manager
and was a co-owner of the Calgary Flames in 1989 when they won
their first National Hockey League Stanley Cup. Normie left the
Flames in 1994 but his dedication to his community and country
were recognized with his receiving the Order of Canada in 1998.
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