Former Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin gave a speech before a crowded Calgary audience on Saturday, marking her first appearance outside of the U.S. since she left her post as Alaska's governor.
Palin spoke at the city's BMO Centre as part of the Fraser Institute's influential speakers program, where about 1,200 people shelled out for the talk.
Amanda Achtman, who attended the chat, said that getting a ticket was a no-brainer, given Palin's role as a conservative icon in the U.S. and abroad.
"I think it's so interesting," Achtman said, adding that Palin has had an immense diversity in her life experience: "from sports to beauty pageant to hockey mom."
Since stepping down as governor of Alaska last year in the middle of her first term, Palin has not disappeared from the public eye.
She has been working on rebuilding her image in the U.S. after a rough election campaign for the White House as Sen. John McCain's running mate.
Palin's memoir, "Going Rogue," was published last fall. Palin has also reportedly been shopping a television docudrama in Hollywood.
She's been a regular commentator for Fox News and made an appearance on "The Tonight Show" earlier this week.
Tickets for the Calgary event were being sold for between $160 and $220.
Palin's speech was followed by a question-and-answer period moderated by senator and former broadcaster Pamela Wallin.
Wallin said that having Palin in Calgary was a window into the political scene south of the border, which has been marked by several huge trends in recent years.
From the election of President Barack Obama to the Tea Party movement, Palin has been on the front lines, Wallin said.
With report from CTV Calgary's Sneha Kulkarni
