"Live long and prosper."
Trekkies from across the Lower Mainland had the opportunity to get up-close-and-personal with one of the iconic TV show's most popular stars.
William Shatner—who played Captain James T. Kirk on the long-running series Star Trek—appeared at Fan Expo at the Vancouver Convention Centre over the weekend.
The 90-year-old Montreal-born actor met fans on Saturday (Feb.19) for autograph signings, pictures and answered audience questions on a panel; he also gave a speech that included a variety of topics regarding his life, lengthy career, and his recent "out-of-this-world" trip to space.
Fan Expo offered three days of pop culture-infused activities, shopping, and programming for the whole family that included cosplay, celebrity meet-and-greets, and live events like Sketch Duels, the Cosplay Craftsmanship Cup and much more.
Excited to help @WilliamShatner this weekend @FANEXPOVAN! Come meet the legendary Captain Kirk! #FANEXPOVancouver pic.twitter.com/S4Kj01xbri
— Dominic Dobrzensky (@Count3D) February 20, 2022
What a day. Autograph from @WilliamShatner, talked about custom blasters with a local guy, talked Star Wars fan films with the bucket head crew, talked to tons of people I haven’t seen in 2 years, and bought a bad-ass light saber from #CRSabers! pic.twitter.com/DNVtuYToxH
— Aphinity (@dolphinaphinity) February 20, 2022
Numerous locals took to Twitter after meeting the Star Trek star to share photos they captured of him speaking to the audience and meet-and-greet moments with fans.
OMG Omg! WILLIAM eff'ing SHATNER! He saw my arc reactor and asked "What is that?". I retort "My Sunday Best for a legend". "It's very nice...". I can die now. @WilliamShatner @FANEXPOVAN pic.twitter.com/o6pdp9qF3C
— Stan Floresco (@dr_stan) February 19, 2022
So great to see @WilliamShatner @FANEXPOVAN again on Sunday, really the only reason I needed to be there! 🙏❤️🖖🏼 pic.twitter.com/sIGsI2Phsc
— Lisa Herrera (@1TrekFan) February 21, 2022
During @WilliamShatner @FANEXPOVAN panel, he talks about his time in space. #startrek #spacetravel #FANEXPOVancouver pic.twitter.com/mthXOjirhx
— Pop Goes The World📺 (@Popgoestheworld) February 19, 2022
What a spellbinding and emotional story about the experience of going into space @WilliamShatner told at @FANEXPOVAN on Saturday. He ended with what @JeffBezos told him about saving the planet: We have to have hope. Without hope, what have we got? 🖖🏼 pic.twitter.com/np3UhXVLKT
— Lisa Herrera (@1TrekFan) February 20, 2022
I’m listening to @WilliamShatner RIGHT NOW!!! Thanks for telling us all your stories, Bill! pic.twitter.com/e842yZyUM9
— Paula Spurr (@cowpunkmom) February 19, 2022
Omg omg ! My husband and I have met the great one ! #WilliamShatner today @FANEXPOVAN . He said “ hey how are you guys “ all I could get out was “ it’s such an honour to meet you! So happy ! 🖖❤️ pic.twitter.com/bzyizCLHrB
— ⚡️TheFlashVibes⚡️ (@aveiestweets) February 19, 2022
The William Shatner one. 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/PHF0aL3LVw
— McRob (@robmcwriter) February 20, 2022
— Gavin Bamber (@GavinBamber) February 22, 2022
In October 2021, Shatner and three fellow passengers hurtled to an altitude of 66.5 miles (107 kilometres) over the West Texas desert in the fully automated capsule, then safely parachuted back to Earth. The flight lasted just over 10 minutes.
“What you have given me is the most profound experience," an exhilarated Shatner told Jeff Bezos after climbing out the hatch, the words spilling from him in a soliloquy almost as long as the flight. “I hope I never recover from this. I hope that I can maintain what I feel now. I don’t want to lose it.”
He said that going from the blue sky to the utter blackness of space was a moving experience: "In an instant you go, `Whoa, that’s death.' That’s what I saw.”
Shatner became the oldest person in space, eclipsing the previous record — set by a passenger on a similar jaunt on a Bezos spaceship in July — by eight years. The flight included about three minutes of weightlessness and a view of the curvature of the Earth.
With files from the Canadian Press
