Historic Bow On Tong building ravaged by fire

By Lethbridge Herald on January 31, 2023.

Herald photo by Al Beeber Fire crews work on equipment after a fire at the historic Bow On Tong Co. building was extinguished early Tuesday morning downtown.

Ry Clarke – LETHBRIDGE HERALD – Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A fire in downtown Lethbridge early Tuesday morning has left the historic Bow On Tong Building heavily scarred.

At around 5 a.m. Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services responded to a structure fire at 316 2 Ave S, with crews from four city stations as well as from Coaldale Fire Rescue. 

According to the City, no injuries were reported at the vacant building. A damage estimate was not available at press-time. 

Traffic was closed off on the block of 2 Ave and 4 St, while crews worked to stop the fire. The cause of the blaze is under investigation.

No information was available at press-time about structural damage to the building or neighbouring buildings.

Lethbridge’s Bow on Tong Co. Building was constructed back in 1919, and designated a municipal and provincial historic resource in 2014.Until July, 2021, it was still occupied by one of the original residents, Albert Leong, whose family started the business. 

“That’s the one good thing about this Chinatown – it was a place for these Chinese people to be, and still not be alone,” said Leong in an interview with the Herald in 2021. “In the early days when Chinese people first came to town to Lethbridge, they were only allowed if they wanted to open a business to have it on First or Second Avenue.”