The U.S. Exit Strategy in Afghanistan—Join guest speaker Steve Coll, New America Foundation, for a talk on “The U.S. Exit Strategy in Afghanistan.” Presented by CIPS at the University of Ottawa. Feb. 27, 1 p.m. Room 12110, Desmarais Building, 55 Laurier Ave. E., Ottawa, Ont. http://cips.uottawa.ca/

Gov.-Gen. To Celebrate Canada’s Top Natural Sciences and Engineering Researchers—Gov.-Gen. David Johnston will present a series of Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada awards at Rideau Hall on Monday, Feb. 27, at 5:30 p.m. The NSERC Awards will be presented during the ceremony to: Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering; Brockhouse Canada Prize for Interdisciplinary Research in Science and Engineering; NSERC John C. Polanyi Award; E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowships; Synergy Awards for Innovation; NSERC Howard Alper Postdoctoral Prize; and NSERC André Hamer Postgraduate Prizes. For more information, visit NSERC’s website at www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca.

New Paradigms for Defence Procurement and Industrial Policy?—The chair of Defence Management Studies, with the support from The Royal Military College of Canada and the Security and Defence Forum at National Defence Headquarters, is holding an international conference entitled “New Paradigms for Defence Procurement and Industrial Policy?” Speakers include Dr. Douglas Bland, chair, Defence Management Studies Program in the School of Policy Studies, Queen’s University. Feb. 27, $175. Open to public. Queen’s University, Kingston, Ont. http://www.queensu.ca/dms/Ship2012/speakers2012.htm

GRIC-Networking Breakfast—GRIC is hosting an Economic Panel Discussion as part of its Networking Breakfast series. Challenging times and tough decisions ahead for all levels of government in 2012. In the midst of a fragile economic recovery what should government relations professionals be prepared for in the lead up to the 2012 federal and provincial budgets? Panelists include Scott Clark, former federal deputy minister of finance; Dan Kelly, Sr. VP of Legislative Affairs, Canadian Federation of Independent Business; Paul Viera, Ottawa Bureau, reporter Dow Jones Newswires/The Wall Street Journal; and Glen Hodgson, senior VP and chief economist, Conference Board of Canada. Feb. 28, 7:30- 9 a.m., $39.55 members; $55.85. Main Lounge, Rideau Club, 99 Bank St., 15th floor, Ottawa, Ont. info@gric-irgc.ca

Reducing Genocide to Law—Join guest speaker Payam Akhavan, McGill University for a talk on “Reducing Genocide to Law: Definition, Meaning, and the Ultimate Crime.” Presented by CIPS at the University of Ottawa. Feb. 28, 11:30 a.m. Free. Room 3120, Desmarais Building, 55 Laurier Ave. E. http://cips.uottawa.ca/

The Role Prevention & Rehabilitation Play in a Sustainable Healthcare System—The Economic Club of Canada presents a panel discussion on “The Role Prevention & Rehabilitation Play in a Sustainable Healthcare System.” Panelists include Donna Rubin and Michel D. Landry. Feb. 28, 11:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m., $79. The Sutton Place Hotel, 955 Bay St., Toronto, Ont. www.economicclub.ca

A New Colonialism for Africa—Join guest speaker Obang Methos, executive director of the Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia, for a talk on “A New Colonialism for Africa: Hunger, Aid Dependency and the Selling Off of Land & Resources.” Presented by the Group of 78. Feb. 28, 12 p.m., $30, $5 presentation only. Palais Imperial, 311-313 Dalhousie St., Ottawa, Ont. RSVP to 613-230-0860 or group78@web.net

Greater Than the Sum of its Parts—Join guest speaker Apoorva Oza, CEO of Aga Khan Rural Support Program, who will discuss Aga Khan Development Network’s pioneering approach to development in rural areas and the challenges associated with multi-faceted development. Feb. 28, 2-3:30 p.m. Free. The Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, 199 Sussex Dr., Ottawa, Ont. Register to 613-237-2532 ext. 131 or events@akfc.ca

Canadian Payments 101—The Canadian Payments Association is launching its new payment guides for consumers and small business. Feb. 28, 5:30-8 p.m. Banking, Trade and Commerce Room, 256-S Centre Block, Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Ont. RSVP by Feb. 15 to 613-238-4173 ext. 3248 or invitation@cdnpay.ca

The Transnational Response to the 2008 Global Financial Crisis—Join guest speaker Tony Porter for a talk on “Has Anything Changed? The transnational regulatory response to the 2008 global financial crisis.” Presented by CIC-Hamilton Branch. Feb. 28, 6-7:30 p.m. Free. The Council Room, Gilmour Hall Room 111, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. W. Hamilton, Ont. Contact: Mark Williams, willims@mcmaster.ca

Parliamentary Associations—The Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group will be in Washington, D.C., for a congressional visit. Feb. 28-29. For more information, please visit http://www2.parl.gc.ca/iia

Cocktail Reception and Dinner with Mauril Bélanger and Justin Trudeau—The Ottawa-Vanier Federal Liberal Association presents a cocktail reception and dinner with Liberal MPs Mauril Bélanger and Justin Trudeau. Feb. 29, 6 p.m., $200. Host India, 622 Montreal Rd., Ottawa, Ont. www.liberal.ca

Conservative Weekly Caucus Meeting—The Conservatives are scheduled to meet on at 9:30 a.m., in Room 237-C, Centre Block. For more information, call the PMO Press Office at 613-957-5555.

NDP Weekly Caucus—The federal New Democrats are scheduled to meet for their weekly caucus meeting, Railway Room, 253-D, Centre Block, 10 a.m.-12 noon. For more information, please contact senior press secretary Karl Bélanger at 613-720-6463 or Karl.Belanger@parl.gc.ca

Liberal Weekly Caucus—The federal Liberals are scheduled to meet for their weekly caucus meeting in Room 160-S, Centre Block. For more information, contact the Liberal spokesman Daniel Lauzon at 613-943-4995. 

Women Leading Change—In celebration of International Women’s Day, join Aga Khan Federation Canada and the Coady International Institute, moderated by author, journalist and filmmaker Sally Armstrong, exploring how women are leading change in Canada and around the world. Other guests include CIDA Minister Bev Oda. Feb. 29, 2-4 p.m. Free. Register to 613-237-2532 ext. 131 or events@akfc.ca

The Evolution of Party Discipline—Join guest speaker Jean-Francois Godbout, University of Montreal, for a talk on “The Evolution of Party Discipline in the Canadian House and Senate Since Confederation.” Presented by Queen’s University. Feb. 29, 2:30-4 p.m. Mackintosh-Corry, Rm. B-313, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ont. https://sites.google.com/site/polgodbout/

International Criminal Law: Only for the Winners?—Join guest speaker William Schabas, Middlesex University, for a talk on “International Criminal Law: Only for the Winners?” Presented by the Human Rights Research and Education Centre and CIPS at the University of Ottawa. Feb. 29, 5 p.m. Free. Location TBA. University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ont. http://cips.uottawa.ca

Liberating Libya: A Commander’s Perspective—Join guest speaker Lieutenant-General Charles Bouchard for a talk on “Liberating Libya: A Commander’s Perspective.” Presented by CIC-Montreal Branch. Feb. 29, 6-8 p.m. Free for members; others $10. Peterson Hall, Room 116, McGill University, 3460 McTavish St., Montreal, Que. RSVP to kmatthews@opencanada.org

CIGI Signature Lecture: “Canada-U.S. Partnership”—Join U.S. Ambassador David Jacobson for a talk on the “Canada-U.S. Innovation Partnership.” Hosted by David B. Dewitt, CIGI. Feb. 29, 7-9 p.m. CIGI Campus Auditorium, 67 Erb St. W., Waterloo, Ont. http://jacobson.eventbrite.ca/

Celebrate the Rare Gala—The Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders (CORD) is hosting a gala to promote awareness, celebrate successes and raise funds for rare disease research. Feb. 29, 6 p.m., reception; 7 p.m. dinner, $150. Ottawa Marriott Hotel, 100 Kent St., Ottawa, Ont. For tickets, call Angela Covato at 416-969-7431 or email info@raredisorders.ca

2012 Rare Disease Day Conference—2012 marks the second official Rare Disease Day in Canada. The Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders (CORD) will host the 2012 Rare Disease Day Conference: “Innovations in Research, Therapies and Policy for Rare Disorders.” Feb. 29-March 1. Ottawa Marriott Hotel, 100 Kent St., Ottawa, Ont. To register: http://www.raredisorders.ca

25th Anniversary Lecture Series—The Public Policy Forum presents the 25th Anniversary Lecture Series with guest speaker André Picard, public health reporter for the Globe and Mail. He will discuss “Medicare: can it survive 25 more years?” Feb. 29, 6:30-8 p.m. Dalhousie University, Halifax, N.S. www.ppforum.ca

Parliamentary Associations—The Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union will attend the Parliamentary Meeting on the Occasion of the 56th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women in New York, N.Y. Feb. 29. For more information, please visit http://www2.parl.gc.ca/iia

Bacon & Eggheads Breakfast—PAGSE presents a talk “Geoscience as a Key to Canada’s Economic Competitiveness, Wealth and Development,” with James Franklin, Franklin Geosciences Ltd. No charge to MPs, Senators, and Parliamentary Press Gallery members; all others, $25. March 1, 7:30 a.m. Government Conference Centre, 2 Rideau St., Ottawa, Ont. Register by Feb. 27 to 613-991-6369 or pagse@rsc.ca

Does the Elephant Dance? Contemporary Indian Foreign Policy—Join David Malone, president IDRC, for a talk on “Does the Elephant Dance? Contemporary Indian Foreign Policy. Presented by CIC-Montreal, the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce and others. March 1, 6-8 p.m. Free. Moot Court, Faculty of Law, McGill University, Montreal, Que. RSVP to kmatthews@opencanada.org

Profiling Anonymous—Join guest speaker Gabriella Coleman for a talk on the much-talked about hacker group Anonymous. “Profiling Anonymous” as part of Carleton University’s 7th Annual Paul Attallah Lecture Series. March 1, 7-8:30 p.m. Free. Fountain Room, NAC, 53 Elgin St., Ottawa, Ont. cgc.conference@gmail.com

2012 Annual Carleton University Model NATO Conference—Join guest speaker Conservative MP Chris Alexander (Ajax-Pickering) for a keynote address at the 2012 Annual Carleton University Model NATO Conference. March 1-4. More details TBA. Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr. http://www3.carleton.ca/csds/mnato/ 

Revolution in the Middle East—Join guest speaker Gwynne Dyer for a talk “Revolution in the Middle East.” March 2, 7-9 p.m. Free. Nipissing University Theatre, F213, 100 College St., North Bay, Ont. www.opencanada.org

Saanich-Gulf Islands Annual AGM—The Saanich-Gulf Islands Federal Liberal Association is holding its AGM and Election of Officers. March 3, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Mary Winspear Community Centre, 2243 Beacon Ave., Sidney, B.C. www.liberal.ca

NDP All Candidate Debate—NDP leadership hopefuls will hold a third debate on the theme of “Building a Strong, United Canada.” March 4. Time and venue TBA. Montreal, Que. http://leadership2012.ndp.ca