Heartland's Amber Marshall chosen as Calgary Stampede parade marshal

The Calgary Stampede parade marshal for 2019 will be Amber Marshall, one of the stars of the television drama Heartland, officials announced on Wednesday.

Marshall known for role as Amy Fleming on the TV drama shot in southern Alberta

CBC News Posted: Jun 05, 2019 11:34 AM EDT | Last Updated: June 5, 2019

Amber Marshall stars as Amy Fleming on Heartland, an Alberta-filmed television series. She'll be the Calgary Stampede parade marshal for 2019, riding Stormy, a quarter horse who plays Spartan on Heartland. (CBC)

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.

A marching band plays during the 2015 Calgary Stampede parade. (Jeff McIntosh/Canadian Press)

"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 marshalin a year that promotes women in western culture"because so many times they're overlooked."

"We see the cowboys out theredoing 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-timeAlbertan.

"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 honouredand privileged to be given this role," Marshallsaid. "I'm really looking forward to parade day."

Marshall will lead the parade riding Stormy, a quarter horsewho plays Spartanon Heartland.

Famous Calgary Stampede marshals of the past century

The parade starts atthe intersection of NinthAvenue and First Street S.E. at 9 a.m. It travelswest to 10thStreet S.W., where it heads north to Sixth Avenue and then goes back east to end atthe intersection of Sixth Avenue andMacleod Trail.

The Calgary Stampede runs from July 5to 14.