Did you know that a nation-wide secret society that helped shape French-Canadian history was born right here in Eastview?  Nearly a century after its founding, the Vanier Museopark invites you to step back in time to a story in which secrecy was everything.

On October 22, 1926, in Saint-Charles Parish, three men laid the foundations for what would become the Ordre de Jacques-Cartier. At this time, Francophones faced significant disadvantages in the federal public service, and their educational rights were under threat, Father François-Xavier Barrette, civil engineer Albert Ménard, and Émile Lavoie decided they needed to take action.

Their goal was to create a discreet organization capable of bringing together influential French Canadians and defending the interests of their community. Secrecy quickly became central to its operations. Coded signs, passwords, rituals, and local cells known as “commanderies” allowed its members to work behind the scenes. For many of them, their membership in the Order would remain secret even beyond their deathbeds.

But who were these men? How did the Order operate? And, above all, what role did it play in defending Francophone interests in Canada?

The Vanier Museopark’s new exhibition sheds light on this fascinating story, deeply connected to Ottawa’s Francophone history. Come relive the initiation process of the Order and learn the codes, rituals, and steps involved in joining this mysterious organization.

Welcome to the Order… Can you keep its secret?