Montrealers expect empowering boost from Michelle Obama speech today

More than a year after leavingthe White House, influential former first lady Michelle Obama is continuing to inspire, motivate and empower people.

Tonight, thousands will gather to hear her speak in Montreal.

MontrealerZoeMatte said that she expects to come out of the speech feeling inspired, motivated, and ready to conquer life.

"There are probably going to be a lot of women in the room, and I think that she's really an icon for women's empowerment," Matte added.

Obama is speaking as part of the Chamber of Commerce's Bell International Leaders series, which her husband, Barack Obama, took part in last June.

The chamber's president and CEO Michel Leblanc said that after the former U.S. presidentspoke, the organization received many requests to have his wife take the stage, too.

The event issold out, with about 8,000 people expected to attend.

CBC Montreal will be live blogging Michelle Obama's speech, which starts at 6:30 p.m.

Among them is Samantha Skaller, a 23-year-old graduate student at McGill. She moved to Montreal in August from New York to study musicology.

As soon as she found out Obama was coming, she bought her ticket.

Skaller, who worked with former vice-president Joe Biden on non-profits fighting violence against women, said she's looking for an empowering boost from Obama's speech.

"I love her energy and her clear passion for creating positive change. And really I'm struggling to understand American politics right now," Skaller said.

"I'm so excited to hear Michelle talk and hopefully ...re-motivate me."

For Universit de Montral student Guillaume Solon, who is from France and won tickets through the university, the event will be inspirational.

"I cannot stay emotionless when Michelle Obama comes to Montreal," he said in a message to CBC News.

"She is one of the most influential and powerful women for me."

Obama will give her speech atthePalaisdescongrs. The event is being hosted by Montreal's Chamber of Commerce.