Health Promotion and Community Wellness

Building Healthy Communities

Health care is more than treating illness; it is about all the factors that will allow you to live, learn, work and play.  At MBCHCH, we are here to work with individuals, families and the community to increase access to supports, programs and services. Rooted in the belief that health is a state of the best possible physical, mental, social and spiritual wellbeing, the MBCHCH strives to improve the health and wellbeing of the entire population in our catchment area. Using a population health approach we work with community members to develop solutions that support healthy living. With a strong focus on the determinants of health, our aim is to mitigate the impact of the many non-medical determinants of health. The interprofessional teams extends well beyond clinical providers to include health promotion and community development. MBCHCH recognizes many populations face discrimination that harms their health and wellbeing.

We ensure our staff receive ongoing training in culturally safe practices. Our priority is provide appropriate access to everyone, no matter who they are or where they live. Through a wide range of engagement processes, we are committed to reorienting our services to meet communities’ changing needs.

Primary care services in combination with health promotion and community development activities to address medical and biological issues, and to improve the circumstances in which people live, work, play and age.

Comprehensive primary health care not only improves the health of individuals, it creates healthier communities – inclusive, connected and caring places where everyone feels they belong and are empowered to take control of their health.

Community Development

Community development is a collaborative process that begins with understanding, identifying and prioritizing all the issues that are important to our community members. Together with community organizations and services (schools, housing providers, faith communities, township officials and volunteer groups), we are developing supportive and creative solutions to improve the health and well being of our community.

Health Promotion

Health promotion is the process of enabling individuals and communities to increase control over their health and improve their well-being.

Definition and Purpose

Health promotion focuses on empowering people to make healthier choices and addressing the broader determinants of health, such as social, economic, and environmental factors, rather than solely treating illness or disease (WHO, 1986; WHO, 2026)  It aims to improve overall quality of life by preventing health problems, reducing health inequalities, and fostering sustainable healthy behaviors.

KEY PRINCIPLES

Empowerment and Participation:

Individuals and communities are encouraged to actively participate in decisions affecting their health, gaining knowledge and skills to make informed choices.

Equity:

Health promotion seeks to ensure that all people, regardless of socio-economic status, gender, or ethnicity, have equal opportunities to achieve good health. (WHO, 2026)

Holistic Approach:

It addresses physical, mental, and social well-being, integrating multiple aspects of health rather than focusing solely on disease.

Sustainability:

Efforts are designed for long-term impact, ensuring that health improvements benefit future generations. (WHO, 2026)

Addressing Social Determinants:

Health promotion targets factors like income, housing, education, and employment, recognizing that these influence health outcomes.

Kids Zone

  • Lunch hour bully free program that promotes health and wellness in children by providing activities that focus on healthy behaviors.
  • Increase exposure to social activities.
  • Increase self-confidence.
  • Increase healthy behavior.
  • Develop strengths

Court Sports

Drop-in sports for adults. Adults participate in a variety of sports which are self-structured. Bring people together socially, physical activity, mental health to enhance lifestyle and quality of life. Build a love of being physically and socially active.

Friendly Home Visits

Friendly home visits for seniors and shut-ins. Socialize, physical exercise, assistance with small tasks, check in for health and wellbeing.

Memory Café

A safe and welcoming place for people living with dementia to enjoy activities, socialize, and connect with others, in a supportive setting.

Senior Exercise

Exercise program geared to seniors. 45-60 min 3 time per week of stretching, flexibility, endurance, stability.Work at their own pace. Social environment to make the experience fun so they want to return and make it part of their routine.

Teens in Motion

After school drop-in sports, activities and information sharing for students in grade 7-12. Students participate in a variety of sports/activities/games of their choosing in an informal/self-structured and supervised setting.

Food Bank

Friendly open environment to socialize, learn about nutrition, value of good food choices.  Hot lunch is served, recipes provided for simple meals to prepare with ingredients provided.

Participants visit the Food Bank and select a variety of foods to sustain nutrition for the month.  Participants choose what they would like from a variety of what is available on the shelf in the different food groups.

Every second Thursday February to November and every Thursday in December and January.

The Food Bank is open from 1-3 p.m.

Must be registered.

Smoking Cessation

Smoking cessation programs combine counseling, medications, and support resources to help individuals quit tobacco successfully.

Key Components of Smoking Cessation Programs

Counseling and Behavioral Support: Counseling helps you develop a personalized quit plan, cope with stress, manage cravings, and prevent relapse.

Medications: Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is available in patches, gum, lozenges, inhalers, and nasal sprays.

Christmas Cheer

The purpose of the program is to lessen the burden of the Christmas season for those most vulnerable in our community.  A Food hamper (to include Christmas Day meals and extras) and a toy hamper for those children 14 years old and younger (to include toys, books, pajamas, socks, underwear, puzzles according to their interests) for Ignace families are provided to registered participants. This program is funded strictly through donations.

Community Garden

Friendly open environment to bring people together to socialize, learn about gardening, and the value of growing our own food.  Develop interest and strengths, enhance lifestyle and quality of life, improve health and increase access to basic needs.

Enhance learning the importance of gardening, raising animals, providing the schools and the community with a space and an opportunity to participate in the community garden.

Health Promoter: Yvonne Romas

(807)220-1891 | yromas@maryberglund.com