The Conference Board of Canada ranked us 14th out of the 17 major industrialized nations on measures of innovation, and our "productivity" track record has fared no better. Experts around the world agree that education is the key foundational building block for innovation skill development, and that the seeds of innovation--curiosity, inquisitiveness, experimentation, risk taking, teamwork, and interest in science and math--are best planted in Grades 3-7. The Canada Foundation for Innovation has invested billions of dollars since its formation in 1997 to improve Canada's performance, but our "National" Innovation Strategy does not click into high gear until the post-graduate level. Destination ImagiNation is a volunteer-run program that fills the gap for some younger students, but our school systems need to respond urgently to this country's lagging performance by implementing similar programs for all children.