Where are we on the Military Tree?

The Health Promotion (HP) Department is a branch of the Personnel Support Programs (PSP) division of Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS).  

CFMWS operates under a social enterprise business model, with the fundamental belief that we exist to create positive value for our members. Responsive to the changing needs of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), our programs and services build self‑reliance, resilience and readiness by enhancing mental, social, physical and financial wellbeing.

Working on behalf of the Chief of the Defence Staff and under the authority of the Minister of National Defence, CFMWS is a separate agency but a trusted partner in the Defence team. CFMWS operates under the Non‑Public Property framework, expending Public and Non‑Public funds in a unique operating model that creates real value for the CAF Community. CFMWS currently employs over 4,000 people as “Staff of the Non‑Public Funds, Canadian Forces”, a separate employer under Schedule V of the Financial Administration Act of the Government of Canada.

So... what is Health Promotion?

Health promotion is the process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve, their health. Rather than focusing solely on treating illness, health promotion emphasizes the conditions and resources required for wellbeing—supportive environments, healthy behaviours, and equitable access to the determinants of health. It encourages individuals, communities, and systems to work together to build the foundations that allow people not just to live longer, but to live well. 

Health promotion practice spans a wide range of actions, from behavioural interventions that help people adopt healthier habits to structural approaches that reshape the environments in which they live, learn, work, and play. This includes developing policies that support wellness, conducting research to strengthen evidence‑based decisions, and designing programs that address barriers to health. The field is rooted in the international Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, which outlines core strategies such as strengthening community action and building healthy public policy, and it continues to evolve through the Geneva Charter for Wellbeing, which reinforces the importance of creating societies centered on human and planetary wellbeing.

At 15 Wing our HP Team strives to deliver not only informative but engaging briefings, workshops, courses, and presentations that focus on these four pillars. We are armed with both physical and online resources to assist our community in bettering themselves - both physically and mentally. 

In addition to briefings, workshops, courses, and being the providers of resources; the Health Promotion team participate and promote a variety of campaigns such as National Nutrition Month, Pink Shirt Day, Mental Health Week, Bike Safety Week and more.