HAMILTON, Ont. - Sarah Palin brought her neo-con star power to Canada for a $200-a-plate fundraiser Thursday that drew both fans of the former U.S. vice-presidential candidate and the undecided.

Palin swept down the carpeted stairs of a local banquet hall amid flashing media cameras and gave her trademark smile, but she did not stop to speak to the group of reporters herded into a small area.

Inside the dining hall, seemingly star-struck guests eagerly awaited her much anticipated arrival.

"How often do figures like this come to Hamilton?" said an excited Jenni Lecluse.

"She is a strong woman and she's an example -- whether or not you agree with her politics, you still have to respect her accomplishments."

About 900 guests snapped up tickets to hear the 46-year-old former governor of Alaska and mother of five speak in this southern Ontario city. Some paid $1,000 to have their pictures taken with Palin and get a signed copy of her book.

Earlier, scores of the well dressed people waited excitedly in the sunshine to be let into the black-tie celebrity event.

Gerry Levy, of nearby Stoney Creek, said he admired Palin.

As governor of Alaska, he said, Palin had "turned around a corrupt Republican government."

Among the dignitaries in the crowd was former Conservative premier of Ontario, Mike Harris, who posed happily for photographs.

As people milled in the pre-dinner foyer sipping wine, Mary Burford said she wanted to make up her own mind about Palin.

"She's a personality," said Burford of Hamilton. "She's very influential and she's very controversial."

The money raised was to go to a children's charity.

Initially the funding was supposed to go to two hospitals, but that prompted an outcry over Palin's negative views of Canada's health-care system.

During her speech -- expected to last about 20 to 30 minutes -- Palin planned to talk about community and family values.

Media were given strict rules about when they could take pictures or try to ask Palin any questions, and cameras and recorders were declared off-limits for the speech itself.

The self-described "hockey mom" has reportedly raked in $12 million since last July for speaking engagements, television contracts and sales of her book, "Going Rogue."

She also appears as a pundit on Fox and hosts her own "Real American Stories" show.

Speculation in the U.S. is that Palin will try to run for the presidency in 2012, although she has refused to confirm that.

On Wednesday, she addressed about 5,000 "Tea Party" activists in Boston, where she took aim at President Barack Obama.

"Is this what their 'change' is all about?" Palin asked the crowd.

"I want to tell 'em: 'Nah, we'll keep clinging to our constitution and our guns and religion -- and you can keep the change.'"