House Speaker Andrew Scheer and EU Ambassador Marie-Anne Coninsx host a reception this evening for the EU-Canada Young Journalist Award. May 1, 4-6 p.m. Room 216-N, Centre Block, Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Ont. RSVP to rsvpspkr@parl.gc.ca

PAGSE and the Federation for Humanities and Social Sciences presents a talk “From Trolley Cars to Rapid Transit: The Future of Urban Transportation,” with Jeff Casello, University of Waterloo, and Zachary Patterson, Concordia University. May 1, 7:30 a.m. Free for Parliamentarians and media, all others, $25. Parliamentary Restaurant, Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Ont.

EUNIC Ottawa and CES at Carleton University present a Cultural Diplomacy Seminar on “An EU-Canada Perspective: Writing to be Read – the Impact of New Technologies and Globalization.” April 30, 3-7 p.m. Room 608, Robertson Hall, 1125 Colonel By Dr., Ottawa, Ont. www.carleton.ca

The Media Club of Ottawa presents a talk on “Canada and the Great War: Remembrance and Commemoration,” with Glen Wright, President, British Isles Family Historical Society of Greater Ottawa. April 28, 6-8 p.m., $15 members, $25 non-members. Honeywell Room, Ottawa, Ont. RSVP by April 25 to 613-521-4855.

Canada 2020 presents a talk on “Nations Fail” with Daron Acemoglu, MIT. April 28, 4:30-6 p.m. Free. Adam Room, Chateau Laurier Hotel, 1 Rideau St., Ottawa, Ont. RSVP to canada2020.ca

Authors Allison Loat and Michael MacMillan will discuss their new book Tragedy in the Commons. Moderated by Kate Heartfield, Ottawa Citizen. Presented by the Writers Festival, which runs until April 29. April 27, 4 p.m., $15-$20. Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Lisgar St., Ottawa, Ont. www.writersfest.org

Jo Roberts sits down for a one-on-one with Jim Creskey, Embassy’s senior editor. Presented by the Writers Festival, which runs until April 29. April 26, 2 p.m., $15-$20. Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Lisgar St., Ottawa, Ont. www.writersfestival.org

The Writers Festival presents an evening with Sean Michaels, Eva Stachniak and Steven Galloway, moderated by Mark Medley, National Post. April 26, 6:30 p.m., $15-$20. Festival runs until April 29. Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Lisgar St., Ottawa, Ont. www.writersfestival.org

The Writers Festival presents an evening with award-winning journalist Patricia Pearson. April 26, 4 p.m., $15-$20. Festival runs until April 29. Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Lisgar St., Ottawa, Ont. www.writersfestival.org

Ontario Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli will address members of the Economic Club of Canada at a luncheon today. April 25, 11:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m., $80. Chateau Laurier, 1 Rideau St., Ottawa, Ont. www.economicclub.ca