The swearing-in of B.C.'s 36th premier will be an invitation-only affair on Tuesday (July 18) at Government House in Victoria.

But later that afternoon, the public has been welcomed to meet John Horgan and explore the B.C. legislature from 5 to 7 p.m.

The hoi polloi can stroll through areas, such as the speaker's hallway outside the chamber, that are usually off-limits to folks who don't work in the building.

“We are getting started right away, working hard to deliver on our commitments," NDP MLA Carole James said in a party news release. "And we’re excited to invite people in to their legislature to talk with us and see where much of that work happens."

James is the party spokesperson for the transition. Her constituency of Victoria–Beacon Hill includes the legislature precinct.

Since Vision Vancouver took control of the Vancouver civic government in 2008, it has been holding public events to coincide with the swearing-in of local elected officials.

One of Vision's former councillors, Geoff Meggs, has been hired as Horgan's new chief of staff. So it shouldn't come as a huge surprise that the incoming NDP provincial government is adopting a similar approach on its first day in office.