Irv Rootman is a Professor at the University of Victoria and a Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Distinguished Scholar. He has been a leader in health promotion research in Canada for more than twenty years. Dr. Rootman developed the first national health promotion survey; led a national project to develop knowledge in health promotion; was the first Director of the Centre for Health Promotion at the University of Toronto; stimulated the establishment of the Canadian Consortium for Health Promotion Research; and developed a national program of research in literacy and health.