Andrew Chong, the North Vancouver-based editor of Hockey Now, had some affectionate words for his mom, Leona Lysack Chong.
She is the mother of three sons (a 29-year-old editor, a 26year-old pro hockey player, and a 24-year-old North Van youth pastor) and had a 25-year career as the executive assistant to the CEO(s) of Placer Dome Inc. (the world's third largest gold mining company, head office in downtown Vancouver).
What qualities of your mom's do you love the most?
My mom has unlimited energy for other people. For example, she volunteers a ton of time with Hope International, traveling around the world - to places like Cambodia and Ethiopia - helping to provide sustainability and clean water to third world communities. Then she spends whatever time she can spreading awareness back home and leading the way in terms of fundraising initiatives and reaching-out to high-profile business people and entertainers who can contribute to the cause.
She provides unbelievable care for my grandparents, and she is incredibly hospitable with her home. When my mom has a milestone birthday, like her recent 60th, a massive crowd shows-up. She means a lot to a lot of people because of her kindness, her warmth, and her love for people.
What is your favourite activity to do with your mom?
It's been a while but I always love golfing with my mom and her ladies' foursome, when one of them is away. They are super fun and super positive, which means a lot in the context of such a difficult and infuriating sport.
She loves to play racquetball (a former nationally ranked player) - in fact, she has always played in the men's division because of her abilities. It's awesome.
She knows more about hockey than any mom I know; she can name the Canucks' roster pretty much top to bottom (she has probably been to about 2,000 hockey games in her life, if you think about all the games her sons have been involved with).
What is your favourite memory of your mom growing up? Our mother-son trip to New York was unforgettable. It was the trip of a lifetime. We went to the US Open of Tennis, watched the New York Yankees play in the old Yankee Stadium, walked on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, and toured Madison Square Garden.
Are you similar to your mom in any way?
As I've gone through postsecondary and the early years of my career, I've realized I excel as an organizer, a communicator, and a people-gatherer . . . I'm basically my mom.
What is the best advice your mom ever gave you?
Her best advice was to be nice to everyone - simple words to live by. Also, as a little boy playing street hockey with my extremely athletic mom, she advised me to use her patented "mummy-bo-bummy" move to check other players - it was essentially a hip check with a cuter name. I still use her move today.
