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As deep and heated as the CFL’s Battle of Alberta is, no one has transcended the rivalry like Normie Kwong.

The same weekend the Edmonton Eskimos and Calgary Stampeders get set to meet in Monday’s annual Labour Day Classic, the former running back-turned-Lieutenant Governor of the province died at age 86 on Saturday.

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But as divisive as the rivalry is for football fans in the province, Kwong’s life was dedicated to bringing Albertans together, whether through his efforts in the arena of professional sports, business or politics.

“I don’t think there’s anybody who’s ever going to say that Normie Kwong’s timing wasn’t immaculate,” said Allan Watt, in charge of the Eskimos external relations and corporate projects. “When you sort of sprinkle in this news over the next couple of days, it will have a real special meaning because he played for both teams and won Grey Cups with both teams.”

Four times in seven appearances, in fact, beginning with the Stampeders as a rookie in 1948 before going on to be a part of Edmonton’s three in a row, from 1954-56.