Opening Ceremonies, Edmonton & Calgary, Alberta
How Do You Invite the Mayor to a Grand Opening?
Contact the Mayor's Office scheduling team directly through the city's official website. Provide the event date, time, location, expected duration of the official's attendance, and a one-paragraph explanation of why the opening is community-relevant. Eight weeks' minimum notice is required.
The one-paragraph community relevance statement is the most important part of the request. Mayor's offices receive many requests — the ones that are approved are the ones with a clear public interest angle: jobs created (how many), investment in the community (how much), a genuine first for the city, or a significant expansion of an existing local employer.
Follow up by phone 2–3 weeks after submitting the request if you have not received a response. Offices manage many requests and follow-up is expected, not intrusive. Confirm the attendance 1 week before the event — schedules change, and you need time to adjust the program if the official cannot attend.
Common questions
Request a substitute: a city councillor for the ward where your business is located, or the Mayor's representative. For provincial openings, a local MLA is the appropriate substitute for the Premier or Minister. A designated official substitute is preferable to an empty spot in the program.
Plan your how do you invite the mayor to a grand opening?
Tell us the date, the headcount, and what you are trying to accomplish. We will come back with an honest assessment.