The paper describes the IPAC Award for Innovative Management and the reasons for its establishment in 1990. It considers the selection of the annual theme, jury , financing and evaluation. In order to facilitate replication, the paper looks at publicity for the award and in particular how the award has contributed to the scholarly literature and the teaching of public administration.The next section reviews winning submissions to the award and chronicles how they reflect changes in public sector management in Canada including new organizational forms and processes, citizen-centered service delivery, empowerment, consultation and partnership, technology and a focus on measurement and results. The paper then looks at Professor Borins' work on the characteristics of innovation by comparing submissions to the IPAC Award for Innovative Management and the Ford Foundation/Kennedy School of Government Awards for State and Local Government in the US.The paper concludes with some personal observations on the influence of leadership, the political agenda and the importance of publicity and the scholarly contribution to the literature.

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