The C.D. Howe Institute presents its Annual Directors’ Dinner with guest speakers Leo de Bever, AIMCo, and Ron Mock, OTPP, who will discuss “Value-Creation in 21st Century Businesses: The Long-Term Investor’s Perspective.” May 22, 6-9 p.m., $199 members, $299 guests. One King West Hotel, 1 King St. W., Toronto, Ont. www.cdhowe.org

Author Terry Fallis will speak to members of the Canadian Club of London at a luncheon. May 20, 12 p.m. Hilton Hotel, 300 King St., London, Ont. www.canadiancluboflondon.ca

The Montreal Council on Foreign Relations presents a talk on “Canada at the Forefront of International Development” with Minister of International Development and La Francophonie Christian Paradis. Part of MCFR’s International Development Series Luncheons. May 16, 11:30 a.m. Montreal Marriott Chateau Champlain, Salon Cartier, 1050 de la Gauchetière St. W., Montreal, Que. RSVP to 514-0340-3622 or www.corim.qc.ca

The C.D. Howe Institute presents its Second Annual Scholars’ Dinner with guest speakers Kelly Peters, Benoit Robidoux and Dilip Soman, who will discuss “Behavioural Economics: Nudging Towards a New Way to Think about Policy.” May 15, 6-9 p.m., $129 members; $249 others. C.D. Howe Institute, 67 Yonge St., Suite 300, Toronto, Ont. www.cdhowe.org.

The Canadian Dental Association hosts its annual Days on the Hill. CDA representatives will be meeting with MPs and Senators to discuss important issues pertaining to oral health and discuss efforts on improving access to oral care for First Nations and Inuit Canadians, children and seniors. May 14-15. For further information or to schedule a meeting, please contact Bonnie Kirkwood at 613-520-5020 or bkirkwood@cda-adc.ca

Spur is a festival of politics, art and ideas and is a catalyst for change in Canada, hosted by the Literary Review of Canada. Through nationally relevant and locally nuanced discussions, presentations and performances, the festival seeks to spur its participants to action on issues affecting Canadians. Feisty, multi-partisan, forward-looking, and solution-driven, this national railway of ideas will provide Canada with vital new cultural infrastructure for the 21st century. More information is available online. 

Parliamentary Reception—The Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC) is holding its annual reception to celebrate IP. Winners of regional science fairs will display their innovations. May 6, 5-7 p.m. Room 256-S, Centre Block, Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Ont. For more information: 613-234-0516 or csevigny@ipic.ca.