BMO Centre Grand Opening with R3 Events

There are some events that feel more like a moment in time—something you had to be there for.This was one of them.

Set inside Calgary’s newly expanded BMO Centre, this three-floor, multi-sensory experience unfolded like a dream: champagne-pouring aerialists, immersive performances, full-scale activations, and a finale that brought the house down (or rather, lit up the sky).

It was bold. It was ambitious. And it worked—because of the events team.

Behind every flawless transition, every surprise performance, every perfectly timed detail, was Jennifer Thacker and the team at R3 Events.

Three Floors. Hundreds of Guests. Zero Room for Error.

You don’t “wing it” when you’re producing an event like this. You orchestrate. You strategize. You obsess over every tiny detail—because when 600+ guests are moving from immersive photo booths to four-stage live performances to fireworks under the stars, there’s no margin for anything less than excellence.

Jennifer made sure every single moment was accounted for.

Each floor was a world of its own:

• On the third floor, champagne was poured mid-air by aerialists while Groove Academy’s performers lit up not one, but four stages—including a singer on a suspended swing.

• Guests walked through a live transition moment featuring six copper statues, eight drummers, and twenty dancers, making the literal act of moving between rooms feel like part of the show.

• Lounge spaces, cocktails, custom activations—it was curated, cinematic, and seamless.

  
  

This wasn’t just a party. This was R3’s signature: bold vision, flawless execution, and moments that get talked about long after the lights go down.

The Grand Finale: Dwayne Gretzky + Fireworks + Food Trucks Under the Stars

At 9:30 PM, guests were guided outside for the final act: a full-scale outdoor concert featuring Canadian legends Dwayne Gretzky, complete with a full bar, dessert stations, and mini donut food trucks. (Because what’s Stampede without donuts?)

As the band wrapped, fireworks lit up the Calgary sky—a final burst of magic to end a night that had already raised the bar for what Stampede events could be.

The Event Everyone’s Still Talking About

Let’s be clear: most planners can’t touch this kind of event. But Jennifer doesn’t just plan events. She engineers experiences.She moves with precision, leads with calm, and carries a level of expertise that only comes from years of producing high-pressure, high-profile celebrations where everything has to go right.

If you’re planning a large-scale corporate event, Stampede celebration, or gala and you need someone who can command the chaos, elevate the vision, and still make your guests feel completely taken care of—you call R3 Events.

Based in Calgary. Built for Big Moments.

R3 Events specializes in large-scale events, corporate productions, and full-service event strategy across Alberta.

Get in touch and let’s make magic.