The author, Director General of Public Health in Quebec, traces the history of the integration of health promotion into the organization of community health and analyzes the concepts and approaches of this initiative, which aims to improve the health and well-being of the population. The determinants of health have been identified: endogenous factors, lifestyle habits and behaviors, physical, economic, and social environments, and the organization of the healthcare system and health services. The resulting strategies involve public policy, the creation of supportive environments, the strengthening of community action, the development of personal skills, and the reorganization of health services. The guiding principle of health promotion is to focus on quality of life and conditions that promote health, rather than on risk factors, with the involvement of the public, policymakers, and physicians. The author reviews major initiatives that implement these principles, which are based on the Ottawa Charter.