Norman Reid was born on June 6, 1923 in Edmonton and received his B.Sc. (with distinction) in Civil Engineering in 1949 and M.Sc. in Structural Engineering in 1951 from the University of Alberta (U of A).

After serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force and Royal Air Force during World War II, he was employed as a bridge designer by the Alberta Department of Highways and as a Sessional Instructor, Faculty of Engineering, U of A during his postgraduate studies.

He joined Haddin, Davis & Brown Co. Ltd. as a Structural Consultant and was subsequently elected as President.  He merged Crowther McKay with H.D.B. and became the founding President of Reid Crowther & Partners Ltd. in 1965, with offices across Canada and project offices internationally. From 1987-93, he was President of Norman L. Reid Consulting Services.

First elected to The Association of Professional Engineers of Alberta (APEA) – now The Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) – council in 1962, Reid went on to become Vice-President (1966-67) and President (1967-68). He served as member, co‑chair and chair of a variety of committees. He was awarded Honorary Life Membership with APEA in 1968.

Reid studied Advanced Management at Banff School. He was a council member and vice president of the Consulting Engineers of Canada. As chief warden of Camp 18 Alberta he was responsible for the ritual of the calling of an engineer - iron ring ceremony.  Law Studies, University of Calgary earned him the designation Chartered Arbitrator, Arbitration and Mediation Institute of Canada. In 2009, he was named a fellow of Engineers Canada and in 2013 he was named honorary fellow of Geoscientists Canada.

He received the World War I Veterans' Son Bursary from the Royal Canadian Legion and later received The Royal United Services Institute Lieutenant Governor Award. He was an air Navigator and multi-engine Pilot and was awarded two Gold Caterpillars, the Flying Boot Award and behind enemy lines was made a member of the Serbian Chetniks 'Fighting Guerillas' of Gen. Draza Mihailovich. After completing 41 night combat operations during World War II, the Royal Air Force entered this citation in his Flying Log Book: “completed a most successful tour the latter part being devoted to target location, illumination and special low level attacks. Thoroughly reliable at all times.” He remained involved with the RCAF over the years and is currently a director of the Royal Air Forces Escaping Society. Reid was retained to lecture combat airmen of NATO, USAF and RAF on subsistence and rescue preparation when behind enemy lines.

In June 2015, The Honourable Harjit Singh Sajjan, Minister of National Defence, awarded Reid the Bomber Command Bar for his commendable service during the Second World War.

He has received many honours and awards over the years, which include:

• The American Concrete Institute for Advanced Concrete Design
• Life member, American Society of Civil Engineers
• The Beaubien Award, The Association of Consulting Engineers of Canada - “highest mark of distinction to one who has served in an exceptional manner and contributed to the advancement of Consulting Engineering“
• The Lord Strathcona Golden Spike Award
• Premier’s Award of Excellence (Alberta), for consulting work done to create construction contract documents

His activities in the community include:

• chair, building appeal board, city of Calgary
• instructed students to operate sound projectors of the National Film Board for outdoor public viewings
• president, Kiwanis Club of North Calgary
• member, Rotary Club of Downtown Calgary
• provided arbitration services pro-bono to Better Business Bureau
• Strathcona Tweedsmuir School board of governors (30 years)
• Founded Norman and Tess Reid Family Endowment Fund, Post-Graduate Students Faculty of Engineering, University of Alberta