The Globe and Mail’s national affairs columnist Jeffrey Simpson is being honoured at a reception this evening by the Ottawa Branch of the Queen’s University Alumni Association. He is the winner of the Agnes Benidickson Award, the highest tribute given by the Ottawa Branch and presented to an individual for distinguished service to Queen’s University and Canada. March 26, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Canadian Museum of Nature, 240 McLeod St., Ottawa, Ont.

The Economic Club of Canada presents a talk on “The Web and the Cost of Human Trafficking” with David Kilgour, director, Council for a Community of Democracies, and Casandra Diamond, Women’s Support Network of York Region. March 26, 11:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m., $89. The Westin Hotel, 11 Colonel By Dr., Ottawa, Ont. www.economicclub.ca

CPA Canada hosts Financial Literacy Day on the Hill. Learn more about how you can partner with CPAs to provide free financial education sessions in your communities. March 25, 7-9 a.m. Parliamentary Dining Room, Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Ont. RSVP by March 17 to Eddie Kawooya at 613-290-0221 or ekawooya@globalpublic.com

The Faculty of Public Affairs at Carleton University presents the annual Dick, Ruth and Judy Bell Lecture with Darrell Bricker, author and pollster, who will discuss his book The Big Shift: The Seismic Change in Canadian Politics, co-written by John Ibbitson. March 24, 7:30-9:45 p.m. Free. River Building, Room 2220, 1125 Colonel By Dr., Ottawa, Ont. www.carleton.ca

The Ottawa Women’s Canadian Club presents a luncheon talk with Superintendent J. Greg Peters, Usher of the Black Rod. March, 20, 12:30 p.m. Chateau Laurier, Ballroom, 1 Rideau St., Ottawa, Ont. www.owcc.ca

CIPS at the University of Ottawa presents a talk on “Israel’s Security Challenges in the Context of the Current Regional Turmoil,” with Rafael Barak, Israel’s Ambassador to Canada. March 10, 1 p.m. Social Sciences Bldg., Room 4004, 120 University St., Ottawa, Ont. cips.uottawa.ca

The Faculty of Law and CIPS at the University of Ottawa present a talk “The Use of Force, Rule of Law Restraints, and Process: Unfinished Business for the Responsibility to Protect Concept,” with Joanna Harrington, University of Alberta. March 7, 12 p.m. Free. Fauteux Hall, Faculty of Law, Room 147B, 57 Louis Pasteur St., Ottawa, Ont. cips.uottawa.ca

The Ottawa Economics Association presents a discussion on Budget 2014 with Kevin Page, former parliamentary budget officer, David Macdonald, CCPA, and William Robson, C.D. Howe Institute. March 6, 11:45 a.m., $45 prepaid, $75 door, non-members $90. Chateau Laurier, 1 Rideau St., Ottawa, Ont. Details and registration: www.cabe.ca

The Canadian Electricity Association will launch its policy paper entitled Copper Theft from Canada’s Electricity Infrastructure: Dangerous, Expensive and a Threat to Reliability. The launch reception brings together stakeholders and Parliamentarians to begin a national conversation on copper theft. March 3, 6-8 p.m. Room 238-S, Centre Block, Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Ont. RSVP to rsvp@electricity.ca