New Heritage Minute Celebrates Football Player Norman Kwong

TORONTO, Feb. 13, 2024 /CNW/ - Historica Canada is marking the Lunar New Year with the release of a new Heritage Minute.

This Heritage Minute tells the story of Norman Kwong, the first Chinese Canadian to play professional football. Born in Calgary Kwong began his football career in 1948 as Canada's first professional Chinese Canadian player. He served as president and general manager of the Calgary Stampeders (1988–92) and part owner of the Calgary Flames (1980–94) before becoming the first Chinese Canadian to serve as lieutenant-governor of Alberta.

Historica Canada's newest Heritage Minute celebrates Norman Kwong, the first CFL player of Chinese heritage and 4x Grey Cup winner.

Patrick Kwok-Choon stars as Norman Kwong in Historica Canada's newest Heritage Minute. (CNW Group/Historica Canada)

"Norman Kwong was a trailblazer not only for his achievements but also his ability to overcome barriers" said Anthony Wilson-Smith, President and CEO of Historica Canada. "He has left a lasting mark on the CFL, and Canada both as an athlete and advocate for multiculturalism and sport."

The Minute was filmed was filmed in November 2023 in Calgary, Alberta. The Minute was produced by Historica Canada, Danny Rockett Productions and was made possible through funding from the Government of Canada with the assistance of the Government of Alberta, Alberta Media Fund and in-kind equipment support from William F. White International.

Michelle Wong and Brent Kawchuk served as co-producers. It was written and directed by Yung Chang, whose award-winning short Gatekeeper qualified for the 2016 Oscars. His feature documentary This is not a Movie premiered at TIFF in 2019. Director of Photography is Alan Poon known for American Born Chinese (2023), Accused (2023), Son of Critch (2022). Kwong is played by Patrick Kwok-Choon, of Star Trek: Discovery (2017), and Wynonna Earp (2016). The end narration in English is provided by actor and comedian Andrew Phung known for Kim's Convenience and Run the Burbs. The voice of Norman Kwong in the French Minute was actor Albert Kwan, known for The Mummy III: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, Source Code, and Arrival.

On this production, Historica Canada consulted with Steve Daniel, a CFL historian; Dale Lee Kwong , a historian and Chinatown activist; and Teresa Woo-Paw, a Chinese Canadian community leader and co-chair of the Asian Heritage Foundation.

Said Greg Kwong, son of Norman Kwong: "My family and I are honoured and humbled with the production of the Heritage Minute that encapsulates the life of our Father. The people that worked on the project have done an excellent job in highlighting his life and we hope his story provides inspiration to future generations."

Historica Canada is a charitable organization that offers programs in both official languages that you can use to explore, learn, reflect on our history, and consider what it means to be Canadian. The Heritage Minutes collection is a bilingual Canadian series comprised of 60-second short films, each depicting a significant person, event, or story in Canadian history.

SOURCE Historica Canada

Emilie Bourdages-Bittle, Communications Coordinator, [email protected], [phone]