Landmark Building
CHI KONG TONG BUILDING, 1924
310 – 2nd Avenue South, Lethbridge
Built in 1924
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Across the Avenue from the Kuo Min Tang building is the Chi Kong Tong building. It was the meeting place of the Lethbridge Branch of the Chinese Freemasons. This branch was incorporated in 1922, as part of Canada's oldest Chinese organization, the Chinese Freemasons, formed in the British Columbia gold mining boomtown, Barkerville, in 1862. A Canada-wide subscription campaign helped to finance the 1924 construction of this building. The second floor Masonic Hall was also used as a Chinese language school for members' children. The ground floor commercial space is now occupied by the Sun Kwong Grocery. In August, 1987 this building was designated a Provincial Historical Resource.
The Landmark Buildings and Places Database draws on the series of walking and/or driving tour booklets produced by Alberta Culture (now Alberta Culture and Community Spirit). The Heritage Community Foundation gratefully acknowledges the support of the Ministry through permission to reprint these materials online. Extracted from Lethbridge Historical Walking Tour. Alberta Community Development and the Sir Alexander Galt Museum & Archives, n.d., with permission from Alberta Culture and Community Spirit. Visit the Alberta Culture and Community Spirit for more information.