Heartland's Amber Marshall chosen as Calgary Stampede parade marshal
Marshall known for role as Amy Fleming on the TV drama shot in southern Alberta
The Calgary Stampede parade marshal for 2019 will be Amber Marshall, one of the stars of the CBC television drama Heartland, officials announced on Wednesday.
Marshall, 31, is best known for her role as Amy Fleming, "the horse-whispering miracle girl" on the long-running hit series, the Stampede said in a release.
Marshall and her husband own their own ranch and are active in the rodeo world. The Stampede is celebrating women in western culture this year and president Dana Peers says that makes Marshall a perfect choice.
"Amber represents and promotes western heritage and values both on and off the screen. She is a role model to many young viewers and I believe she portrays a very positive message," Peers said in the release.
"As we salute woman in western culture, I am proud Amber will be the 2019 parade marshal."
In an interview Wednesday on The Homestretch, Marshall said she was honoured to be chosen parade marshal in a year that promotes women in western culture "because so many times they're overlooked."
"We see the cowboys out there doing their thing and we don't always see the women behind these homesteads that are really putting in the same effort or more."
And while she is originally from London, Ont., the actor says she's now a full-time Albertan.
"My Ontario family probably is cringing when they hear this," she said, "but as soon as I set foot in Alberta, in the Calgary area, I just knew that this was home.
"I can never imagine leaving this place. I really feel like Calgary adopted me — and I have adopted them."
The parade takes place on Friday, July 5.
"I feel extremely honoured and privileged to be given this role," Marshall said. "I'm really looking forward to parade day."
Marshall will lead the parade riding Stormy, a quarter horse who plays Spartan on Heartland.
The parade starts at the intersection of Ninth Avenue and First Street S.E. at 9 a.m. It travels west to 10th Street S.W., where it heads north to Sixth Avenue and then goes back east to end at the intersection of Sixth Avenue and Macleod Trail.
The Calgary Stampede runs from July 5 to 14.
With files from The Homestretch
With files from The Canadian Press