I journeyed to Vernon for some vacation and to attend a historic event.

Larry Kwong the first non-white to play in the NHL, way back in 1948, will be honoured with the inaugural Pioneer Award at the BC Hockey Hall of Fame Induction ceremony Friday July 23, in Penticton.

The Vernon-born Kwong, will also be in Vernon for a special reception at the Vernon Museum on Saturday, August 24th from 12 noon to 12:45pm.

Kwong played junior hockey in Vernon, then with the Trail Smokeaters, before joining the New York Rangers of the NHL.  Due to racial colour barriers in North America at the time, he later played in England and Switzerland.

Check out this local Vernon news story
http://www.bclocalnews.com/okanagan_similkameen/vernonmorningstar/news/99082069.html