Calgary 
Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen has been chosen to lead the 2023 Stampede Parade, marking the official start of Stampede 2023 in Calgary.
Credit: Calgary Stampede
Hansen is set to become the first Canadian to embark on a lunar mission as part of the historic Artemis II mission.
Before his departure, Hansen will kick off the Calgary Stampede by serving as the Parade Marshal.
Ontario native Hansen trained in Alberta, completing CF-18 fighter jet training in Cold Lake and joining the Canadian Space Agency. Joining Hansen as the honorary Parade Marshal is Chief of the Defence Staff, General Wayne Eyre, who shares a dedication to public service through his work with the Canadian Armed Forces. Both Hansen and Eyre were Cadets, with Hansen joining the Air Cadets and Eyre participating in the Army Cadets program.
Since 1914, the Calgary Stampede has honored and supported the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces. To celebrate 100 Years of Chuckwagon Racing, a special entry will be included in the Parade. Over 400 four-legged and nearly 5,000 two-legged participants will join Hansen in leading the parade through the streets of Calgary.
Following the parade, Stampede Parade to Park, presented by Suncor, will offer free admission to attendees from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The Calgary Stampede Parade will take place on Friday, July 7, with the prelude starting at 7:30 a.m.
For those unable to attend in person, a special broadcast by Corus Entertainment and Global Calgary will provide live coverage.
To watch the parade live, tune in to Global Calgary or access the broadcast through various platforms, including Global Television, the Global TV app, Globalnews.ca, the Global News YouTube channel, Facebook, and Amazon Prime.
