Talk about a final frontier!

The Calgary Stampede Parade become one Tuesday, when they announced that the Grand Marshal of the 2014 Stampede Parade will be none other than William Shatner, a.k.a. Star Trek’s original Captain Kirk.

It turns out that not only is the iconoclastic Shatner — a classically trained Stratford veteran in addition to being an Emmy and Golden Globe Award winning actor, author and occasional spoken word artist — a comic-con icon for the ages, he’s also an avid horseman.

"I am looking forward to leading the Calgary Stampede Parade," says Shatner, in a release issued by the Stampede. "I’ve been to Calgary before, but I have never been to the Calgary Stampede — leading the Parade will be quite a way to experience my first time."

Stampede president and board chair Bob Thompson said it takes more than a few Emmy Awards and Golden Globes to make a Stampede Parade Marshal.

"Shatner’s Hollywood credentials are just part of the reason we thought he would be a great choice as our 2014 Parade Marshal," says Thompson. "He has an unparalleled passion for horses which we thought would be a great fit for us. I can’t wait to kick off the Calgary Stampede with him in the year of the horse."

In addition to Shatner, the Stampede announced that their Stampede Parade honorary marshals will be the feel-good duo of the 2014 Winter Olympics, Gilmore Junio and Denny Morrison.

The duo became forever linked at Sochi, when Gilmore gave up his spot so that Morrison could skate in the 1,000 metre speedskating event, resulting in a silver medal for Morrison.

"When I received the call from Bob Thompson to see if we were available to help lead the Parade, I immediately texted Denny to let him know we were going to do this together," says Junio. Morrison adds, "We didn’t have to give it much thought, especially when we found out we would be leading with William Shatner!"

The Calgary Stampede Parade takes place Friday, July 4 at 9 a.m.