Sunday June 10, 2012: Canada Rivers Day

Tribute to Andy Glendenning:
A True Friend of the Salmon River

Some people have the ability to inspire us and Andy Glendenning was one of those. On November 15, 2011, he died in the arms of his workmate, wife and best friend of 27 years, Donna McNeil. Sadly, he succumbed to his third round of cancer.

Donna writes: Andy believed in the Salmon River and, of all the places we could have chosen to retire, we were drawn to Tamworth. He couldn't imagine living life without all four seasons. Andy's great passion was to move quietly by foot, on snowshoes, cross country skis, by canoe, or by kayak, and study everything around him. He photographed as much as he could, and had the patience to wait for what might present itself. He planted many hundreds of trees on our property. His practical skills were endless, from woodworking and carpentry to electrical, small engine repair, and all-around tinkerer with anything with moving parts. And he loved living here on Salmon Ridge, in the home we built with the help of local contractors, in the community of Tamworth, in this part of Ontario.

Andy spent endless hours watching over and canoeing in the Salmon River: a river keeper in the best sense of the word. The river and our community will miss Andy: he was one of a kind and a True Friend of the Salmon River.

Andy canoeing on the salmon River

Teen Heron -photo by Andy Glendenning

Read on to appreciate the many facets of this unique man including an amazing story about a Canada Goose and a snake. See some of his wildlife photos too.

It was Andy's wish that donations from friends and family be directed to the Friends of the Salmon River and to Stone Mills Firefighters. We are so grateful for his generous gift.

The Friends are a group of volunteers who live near the Salmon River or who visit and enjoy the river and its watershed. We first met in 2004 and are now provincially incorporated. The Friends want to learn more about the Salmon and want to use that knowledge to care for the river and its watershed. The Friends of the Salmon co-operate with the Stewardship Councils of Frontenac, Lennox & Addington and Hastings as well as Quinte Conservation and all other like-minded groups interested in the Salmon and its watershed.

Many think that the Salmon starts south of Highway 7 because that is where the name first appears on maps. Not true. The most important part of the Salmon is north of 7.

Map of the Salmon River