Order of Good Cheer

The Order of Good Cheers

The Medallion of the Order
Founding of the Order	November 14, 1606
Location	Port-Royal, in New France; nowadays in Annapolis County, Nova Scotia, Canada
Motto	"Fellowship and Good Cheer"
Original Charter	To share in the fellowship and good cheer enjoyed among the "nevoux noblise" of New France as they wintered together in Port-Royal and to revel in the Glory of King Henri IV.

The Order of Good Cheers (French: L'Ordre de Bon Temps), was originally a French Colonial Order founded by suggestion of Samuel de Champlain upon arrival in New France, present day Canada. The Order of Good Cheer, was founded at Port-Royal, Nova Scotia and was originally chartered under the Royal auspices of the Baron de Poutrincourt and Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Mons. The Order's practices were established by the first Chief Steward Marc Lescarbot.

On May 11, 2001, the Speaker of the House in Nova Scotia, Canada, the Hon. Murray Scott reaffirmed official recognition of the Order in Canada as grant of the Province under the custodianship of the Nova Scotia Ministry of Heritage. According to resolution 1111, the minimum condition of membership to the Order is that a pledge to visit Nova Scotia must be made. The Order is generally presented in recognition of individuals valued by the Province of Nova Scotia or in honour of the Acadian tradition in Canada.

One becomes a member of the Order of Good Cheer by receiving an invitation from the Province of Nova Scotia or by a Chevalier / Member of the Order.

It was after an impossible winter at Ste. Croix Island where many of the first French settlers in North America died of scurvy that the French fur trading colony relocated across the Baie Française (Bay of Fundy), settling the following year in a location they named Port-Royal.

At the time it was believed that "land sickness" (now known as scurvy) was caused by idleness, so Champlain organized the Order to include not just food, but also entertainment. The first meeting, which took place on November 14, 1606, included a theatrical performance called "Le Theatre de Neptune en la Nouvelle-France". The play told the story of sailors travelling to the New World, only to encounter Neptune, god of the sea on the way.