This paper shares the experiences of 3 occupational therapists whose work has been guided by health promotion and mental health promotion principles while using community development strategies. Although health promotion has been lauded for over 2 decades as a useful model from which to practice community occupational therapy, few illustrations of its application to practice exist. The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion is reviewed as a starting point from which to frame mental health promotion and community development strategies. Two group programs are presented to illustrate an occupational therapy application of the health promotion model and community development strategies within a primary health care setting. Lessons learned from the therapists' work are shared in terms of conceptual understandings of community occupations, consumer barriers to participation, sustainability of community development projects, and balancing individual client issues with community-level interventions. The programs exemplify the role of occupational therapy in the development of community participation opportunities for interested individuals.