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Physical and Health Education Canada (PHE Canada) is a national, charitable, voluntary-sector organization whose primary concern is to influence the healthy development of children and youth by advocating for quality, school-based physical and health education.

Vision

All Canadian children and youth living physically active and healthy lives.

Mission

PHE Canada advocates and educates for quality physical and health education programs within supportive school and community environments.

PHE Canada Believes

… That physical and health education, intramurals and dance education are core to promoting positive attitudes to lifelong, healthy living.

… That school communities have more influence on the lives of children and youth than any other social institution.

… That Canadians need to understand the link between physical activity, nutrition and healthy living. 

History

The Canadian Physical Education Association (CPEA) was founded in 1933 by Dr. Arthur S. Lamb of McGill University. In 1948, the association became incorporated to better serve the needs of its growing membership, and changed its name to the Canadian Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation (CAHPER). In 1994, to recognize the value and uniqueness of dance education, the name was modified to the Canadian Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (CAHPERD). September 2008 the name was changed to Physical and Health Education Canada. “We believe that our new name will help us to better reflect the work that we do and will broaden awareness of our association beyond the education system to include media, parents and the general population.  Reaching a diverse audience will be important in helping us to achieve our vision of ‘All Canadian children and youth living physically active and healthy lives.’ ” says Mark Jones, PHE Canada President

A glimpse into our past

1933 The Canadian Physical Education Association (CPEA) is established.

1948 CPEA becomes the Canadian Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation.

1951 Our Association becomes incorporated.

1957 The Halifax Convention takes place. It was at this conference where the decision was made to publish a professional journal under the leadership of Dr. Don Smith and Al Affleck.

1958 The first CAHPER office is established in Toronto.

1959 Rae Spiers delivers the first Dr. R. Tait McKenzie Address.

1967 The Canadian Symposium of Recreation takes place in Montreal. This event, called Man and His Leisure, was an enormous and successful undertaking. It brought together, for the first time in Canada, all organizations concerned with Health, Physical Education and Recreation.

1972 This year, CAHPER established the Dr. R. Tait McKenzie Memorial. It is also in this year that the CAHPER National Office was moved to Ottawa.

1994 This year, we became the Canadian Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

1998 CAHPERD launched Quality Daily Physical Education (QDPE) as a way to define a program that is well-planned, taught by qualified and enthusiastic professionals, and offers a variety of learning opportunities to all students on a daily basis throughout the entire school year.

2004 CAHPERD takes the lead in planning for the 2005 International Year of Sport and Physical Education.

2008 CAHPERD celebrates 75 years of service.

2008 CAHPERD becomes Physical and Health Education Canada (PHE Canada)

2005-2006 Annual Report (PDF)

2003-2004 Annual Report (PDF)