A Friend of the Order is a meaningful partnership between individuals, regardless of their faith or non-faith beliefs, and the Acadia Commandery. This partnership involves annual charitable donations that are specifically directed towards local projects or initiatives endorsed by the Commandery, such as hospices, care facilities, or other approved endeavors. The donated funds are channeled directly to the designated charitable recipient's collections utilities, usually through a Canada Helps account, which generates an official tax receipt immediately. However, if a tax receipt is not required, direct contributions can also be made to the Acadia Commandery via e-transfer to acadia@stlazarus.ca. These funds will be utilized for various projects sponsored by the Acadia Commandery throughout the Maritime region.

The Friends of the Order are organized into distinct "Houses," each of which is directly linked to a specific local project or initiative. For instance, those who support the "House of Fundy" channel their annual donations towards the Fundy Hospice project, while Friends associated with the Fredericton area are affiliated with the "House of Fredericton," directing their oblations to Hospice Fredericton. This allows Friends of the Order to align their charitable giving with a particular cause or location that holds special meaning to them, creating a meaningful connection between their contributions and the impact they can make in their local community.

As a valued Friend of the Order, you will have the unique opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals who share your passion and interest in palliative and hospice care, or the history of the Order. By advocating, developing, and supporting palliative and hospice care initiatives in your community, or exploring and preserving the rich history of the Order of Saint Lazarus, you will actively contribute to the fulfillment of the Order's mission to aid those in need, a legacy that spans 900 years.

Being a Friend of the Order also means expanding your network to connect with other Friends and Members of the Order, including professionals, care workers, doctors, nurses, political representatives, business people, military personnel, and civilians, at various Order events such as socials, special presentations, lectures, and meetings dedicated to palliative and hospice care initiatives. Additionally, Friends of the Order may enjoy exclusive discounts on registration fees, where applicable.

Joining the Order as a Friend not only allows you to share your interest and passion with a like-minded community, but it also increases the likelihood of successful implementation of sustainable palliative and hospice care programs in your area, aligning with the original mission of the Order of Saint Lazarus to provide aid to those in need.

As a valued Friend of the Order, your annual oblation (donation) of $50.00, to be submitted by the end of each calendar year via e-transfer to the email address: , comes with a range of benefits. When submitting your donation, please ensure to include your full name, address, phone number, and indicate the project to which your oblations should be directed, as well as request a tax receipt. The benefits of becoming a Friend of the Order include:

• Volunteer in/Support Projects As a Friend of the Order, you will have the opportunity to volunteer in/support projects in your local community that are associated with your respective House, making a positive impact on those in need and helping to improve your community.
• House e-newsletters You will also receive semi-annual e-newsletters from your House, which will highlight the good works being done in the localized Houses within its respective Commanderies.
• Social Media Furthermore, you will be invited to join the respective House Facebook group, providing you with access to social media updates and highlights on local projects.
• Socials and Networking Additionally, you will have the opportunity to attend socials and networking events organized by the Commandery, such as annual fundraising formal dinners, Commandery summer BBQs, or information sessions on the progress of local initiatives that the Commandery or Houses are engaged with.

As a Friend of the Order, your contributions and engagement will actively support the Order's mission to establish, advocate for, and/or support palliative and hospice care programs across Canada, particularly in the Maritime region. If you have an interest in military/history, there are also opportunities to explore the rich history of the Order and bring it to life through presentations and events featuring period-authentic 12th Saint Lazarus knights.

For more information or if interested in pursuing the Friend of the Order, please contact us via email with: . You can also download the Friend of the Order application form by clicking on the icon . You can then fill the form on your computer viewing the form using standard Adobe PDF reader. Save the file to your computer and then email it as an attachment, along with an attachment of a recent portrait to: (don't forget to attach your completed PDF file to the email before sending!)