A small Canadian town has been obsessed with all things Star Trek for as long as anyone can remember, but denizens always felt something - or someone - was missing. Until the weekend.

Leonard Nimoy, who will forever be known as Mr Spock from the 1960s sci-fi TV series, finally fulfilled the dreams of the farming community that shares the name of the character's home planet by paying a visit.

His remarks to Vulcanites, many decked out in their homemade Star Trek uniforms, were, well, logical.

"I have been a Vulcan for 44 years - I figured it was time I came home," the 79-year-old actor said to cheers at a ceremony at the centre of the town.

Vulcan, a community of 2,000 people about 100 kilometres south-east of Calgary, has for years identified with Star Trek.

It has become a tourist drawcard, especially for hard-core Trekkies.

There is a model of the USS Enterprise spaceship at the turn-off from the highway.

Pictures of Spock as well as space scenes adorn buildings downtown.

Town officials look for any opportunity to put on their uniforms and pointy ears and the town's annual summer fair is known as Spock Days.

The council had tried for years to attract Nimoy, who played the half-Vulcan, half-human first officer Mr Spock known for his logical solutions to crises facing Captain James Kirk, played by William Shatner, and his crew.

Nimoy didn't stay long, but for Vulcan, his weekend visit tops all other events.

Locals are calling it "the Holy Grail moment".

"It's an opportunity to welcome Spock home, to welcome Leonard Nimoy back to Vulcan - his home community, his home planet," Mayor Tom Grant, Vulcan ears affixed, said as he strolled down the main drag behind an Enterprise-theme parade float.

Nimoy left his handprint - fashioned in a Vulcan salute - for the town to cherish and he unveiled a bronze bust of himself as Spock.

He listed numerous honours bestowed on him over the years for his work in the famous role, most recently being inducted into the US Space Foundation Hall of Fame. But he said the tribute paid to him by the town of Vulcan was the most touching of all.

"Wait until Bill Shatner hears about this," Nimoy joked.

- Reuters