OTTAWA — For one night, Canada's political capital will shift west to Vancouver. An event to honour Conservative icon John Reynolds has become a major happening to mark good times for governing Tories, who spent so long in the political wilderness.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper will be there, as will more than a third of his cabinet, with some travelling on their own time, and others arranging meetings and speeches in B.C. so that the dinner can be fit into a government trip. Dozens of other MPs and senators are expected.

The silver-haired Mr. Reynolds has seen the small-c conservative movement through ups and downs since 1972 when he was first elected as a Progressive Conservative MP; through years as a Social Credit MLA and minister; as an MP for the Reform Party, the Canadian Alliance and the Conservatives; and as co-chair of Mr. Harper's 2006 campaign.

But tonight's event has expanded beyond a tribute to the man and his totemic status: It's become the shindig to celebrate Tory high times.

"It's cool to be a Conservative again," B.C. MP James Moore said.

It's also apparently cool to be there, even for some non-Tories. B.C.'s Liberal Premier, Gordon Campbell, and Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan are both slated to attend. The charity event's 750 tickets have sold out, so an overflow room has been added, with the crowd expected to run closer to 1,000.

Immigration Minister Monte Solberg will share emcee duties, and he and Environment Minister Rona Ambrose will fly in on their personal time, according to aides.

Justice Minister Vic Toews has meetings in B.C. and is giving a speech to the Vancouver Board of Trade tomorrow. Public Works Minister Michael Fortier will be in B.C. for two days of meetings, his press aides said.

Industry Minister Maxime Bernier was in Vancouver yesterday to make a minor announcement about Genome Canada, and will also be holding meetings today and tomorrow.

In all, 10 ministers from the 27-member federal cabinet, including Mr. Harper himself, are expected to attend.

The event, and the presence of federal ministers, will also be a show of Tory faces in a province that is a key second front, in addition to Quebec, in the Conservatives' quest for a majority.

Although the Conservatives hold 18 seats in B.C. now, they lost 10 in the past two elections -- ridings the 125-seat Tories hope to win back to get to the 155 mark for a majority.

The event is, of course, chiefly to pay tribute to Mr. Reynolds, viewed by some Conservatives as a living history of modern Canadian conservatism.

"He's an icon in British Columbia and an icon within the conservative movement," Mr. Moore said. "John Reynolds is the Conservative Mitchell Sharp."

Mr. Reynolds, 64, a barrel-chested, booming-voiced man's man who likes a good steak and a night out, does not share the patrician and even-tempered demeanour of the late Mr. Sharp, despite their shared status as elder statesmen.

He now works for law firm Lang Michener, advising clients on strategy, although he has insisted he will not lobby the federal government.

Mr. Reynolds asked for all of the proceeds from tickets for the dinner -- at $200 a ticket or $5,000 for a table and entry to the VIP cocktail party -- to be donated to the Zajac Ranch for Children, a free summer camp in Mission, B.C., for children with serious and chronic illness.

The turnout, Mr. Reynolds said, is flattering, and his seven children and grandchildren will attend."It doesn't hurt that we're the government of Canada, and that we're at 48 per cent in the polls in British Columbia, which as high as we've been in 20 years. But it's just going to be a fun night." He said.

"When you get the mayor, the Premier and the Prime Minister all in the same room, it's going to be fun. The good news is I get to speak last."