Celebrating Aileen and Gray Merriam

Jeff Green (with files from Terry Kennedy) | Aug 07, 2024

At an unveiling ceremony on Thursday (August 1) the Kennebec Lake Association, celebrated Aileen and Gray Merriam, who have been practicing, advocating and advising good lake stewardship since 1997, when they moved to the lake.

The plaque, which was installed on a large rock at the Kennebec Boat Launch on Henderson Road, says “Gray and Aileen Merriam – In gratitude for the many years of environmental council and leadership – Kennebec Lake Association – Naturally Beautiful, Beautiful Naturally”

The ceremony was attended by many local cottagers and members of the lake association as well as Mayor Frances Smith and Councillor Lynn Klages.

The Merriams have been passionate advocates of the environment, based in a lifetime of knowledge and wonder at the inter-related processes of nature that can be found everywhere from a forest floor, a swamp, or a pristine lake.

Aileen is a trained biologist. She joined the Kennebec Lake Association soon after the couple moved to the lake, and became the lake steward for over 10 years.

Gray is a Professor Emeritus from Carleton University who is a pioneer in the field of landscape ecology, having spent his career developing the concept of watershed based ecological studies and actions.

A long-time advocate for a systemsbased approach to stewardship, he has decried what he calls “random acts of stewardship” that often take place across Ontario.

At Kennebec Lake, the couple formed a stewardship working group to put into practice information that they published in the lake newsletter whenever one came out.

Among the projects that they spearheaded, were fish spawning bed rehab, a survey of fish populations, installing beaver bafflers, children's education sessions “Bugs in the Mud”, nature flower walks Plaque unveiling ceremony for Aileen and Gray Merriam at Kennebec Lake Boat Launch and shoreline surveys.

More regionally, Gray started the Frontenac Stewardship Council. The Friends of the Salmon River, which is still active, was founded at a gathering at their house on Kennebec Lake over 20 years ago.