USS Enterprise commander to beam into Calgary for VIP screening

A Canadian actor who has a major role in the new Star Trek movie will be joining residents of Vulcan, Alta., for aprivate screening in Calgary next week.

As a compromise to losing its bid to host the movie's world premiere, the town southeast of Calgary won a special preview of Star Trek XI on May 6 two days before the North American launch. Paramount Pictures also promised that there would be a special guest.

Bruce Greenwood, who plays Capt. Christopher Pike, the first commander of the USS Enterprise in the popular sci-fi franchise, will be appearing at theVIP screening, according to a news release from the town on Wednesday.

Paramount will foot the cost of bringing 300 Vulcan residents who won their seats through a lottery to Calgary for the preview, as well as provide souvenirs and refreshments.

In March, actor Leonard Nimoy, who portrayed Mr. Spock in the original series and in several Star Trek movies, rallied to support the town's bid to host Star Trek XI 's world premiere. Paramount chose the Sydney Opera House in Australia instead.

But Nimoy was pleased that Paramount made accommodations for the Alberta town.

"I wish I could be in two places at once. I will be in New York helping spread the word about the opening of the film. I am pleased that logic has prevailed and that my Vulcan friends will see the film in Calgary. Live long, enjoy and prosper," he said inWednesday's news release.

Dayna Dickens, tourism co-ordinator in Vulcan, said she's noticed a significant increase in the number of Star Trek fans visiting the town as the movie's North American release date approaches.

Vulcan capitalizes on shared name with Spock's birthplace

A railway surveyor named Vulcan after the Roman god of fire in 1915, but the town has capitalized on its shared name with Spock's birthplace. The town has its own starship monument to welcome visitors, with a plaque featuring greetings in English, Vulcan and Klingon. Another sign welcomes visitors with the Vulcan motto, "Live long and prosper."

Vulcan held its first Vul-Con convention in 1993; there's also an annual Spock Days Rodeo, and a space-themed visitors centre.

The newest instalment of the film franchise will follow James T. Kirk, Spock, engineer Scotty, Uhura and Sulu just after they graduate from Starfleet Academy.

The Quebec-born Greenwood was recently in the HBO surfing series John From Cincinnati and has appeared in numerous television shows and films in his 25-year career, including the medical drama St. Elsewhere and movies such as I'm Not There, Being Julia, Double Jeopardy and I, Robot.