Michelle Obama to speak in Calgary in March

​Calgarians will have a chance to spend an evening with former U.S. first lady Michelle Obama in March.

Obama is scheduled to speak at a Calgary Chamber of Commerce event at the Stampede Corral on March 23 at 7 p.m.

"Michelle Obama has had an incredibly successful career. This is somebody who graduated near the top of her class from Princeton University, worked in law, worked in the [Chicago] mayor's office, and then spent eight years as the first lady of the United States, so I think her accomplishments really speak for themselves," Scott Crockatt, communications chair for the chamber, told the Calgary Eyeopener.

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"She had wide-ranging successes as first lady of the United States, everything from new programs for the military, new programs to help girls learn, and I think she was the first-ever first lady to be on Carpool Karaoke, so she's got quite a diverse background."

Obama launched and led four key initiatives during her time as first lady between 2009 and 2017:

• Let's Move!, aimed at reducing childhood obesity.
• Joining Forces, in support of veterans, service members and their families.
• Reach Higher, inspiring young people to seek higher education.
• Let Girls Learn, to help adolescent girls around the world go to school.

Obama is also speaking in Vancouver in February and a second date was added because of the high demand for tickets.

Tickets to the Calgary event start at $199 and go on sale to Calgary Chamber members on Tuesday and to the general public on Thursday at 10 a.m.

​With files from the Calgary Eyeopener​