The 2009 Grey Cup Festival announced on November 13 that Hollywood actress and Calgary's own Elisha Cuthbert will be the Grand Marshal of the Safeway Grey Cup Festival Parade on Saturday, November 28th, as part of the weekend events. The Canadian star of the hit television series "24" and over nineteen Hollywood movies will return home to Calgary over Grey Cup weekend to host the return of the Parade and will appear at various other Grey Cup events.
"Elisha Cuthbert is a major international Hollywood star with roots rights here in Calgary, so we are delighted that she has accepted the position of Grand Marshal of the Safeway Grey Cup Festival Parade," said Malcolm Kirk, chairman of the 2009 Grey Cup Festival Committee. "Elisha has wide appeal to adults and families, and her participation will truly help revive the tradition of taking Canada's biggest football celebration to the streets."
"I'm so excited to be part of the Grey Cup Festival Parade. It's an incredible Canadian tradition and I'm honored to play the role of Grand Marshal", said Hollywood starlet Elisha Cuthbert.
The Safeway Grey Cup Festival Parade will start at 11am on the 28th of November on a route that will start on 6th Ave SW and Macleod Trail, heading down to 2nd Street SW on to 9th Ave SW and will finish at Olympic Plaza to celebrate the 97th Grey Cup Championship and Festival. Fans are encouraged to take in the Calgary Herald Family Fan Fest at Olympic Plaza following the parade where live entertainment and other programming will occur.
"The Grey Cup Festival parade will feature more than 80 entries and nearly 1800 participants, including marching bands, floats, and live musical entertainment. Entrants from Alberta and across Canada, including most of the CFL cities, will be represented," said Kirk.
Parade organizers expect the parade to last close to two hours and over 100,000 spectators are expected to attend where they will witness a Parade kick off flyover by the CFB Moose Jaw Canadian Forces Snowbirds. The event will be broadcasted via live hits from TSN and various other Calgary TV and radio partners at 11am MST.