
Al Tweddle (1938-2023), founder and President, Friends of Petrie Island
https://heritagefh.ca/obituaries/thomas-allen-tweddle/
A personal message from Acting president Paul Le Fort
I am saddened to announce that our president has passed, after a short battle with cancer.
Born and raised in Toronto, Allen Tweddle graduated in chemical engineering from Toronto Metropolitan University (then Ryerson) and spent his career at the National Research Council. He and his wife Helen, who left us in 2018, were local heroes who devoted most of their adult lives to the community, and especially young people, chiefly through the Friends of the Public Library and the Queenswood Heights Community Association, whose Trail Committee was the seed for the Friends of Petrie Island in 1997.
Al Tweddle was a Renaissance man. A voracious reader, it showed in his fine writing.
He retained throughout his long life a child-like curiosity about the world around him and a great love of the outdoors. He was extremely knowledgeable about many things, especially wild plants and trees, and well versed in the history of North American Indigenous Peoples.
As his right hand for many years, I developed both respect for his values, his persistence and his ability to garner support and funding. His management style could be persuasive, but was always well-intended.
Al had a big heart. Over a quarter-century, he became a good friend to me, and to other members of our group, as well as to countless people in the community he served so generously.
One beautiful day, during one of our many walks together on Petrie Island “to inspect the trails”, we agreed on things we had in common: among them, we both rode motorcycles in youth, but most importantly, we aged, but never grew up. The child in Al was always inspiring him.
Al will be missed by a large family and countless friends and associates. His name on the road that leads to Petrie Island was a well deserved honor. He was by far the best friend Petrie Island will ever have.
Al Tweddle (1938-2023), fondateur et président des Amis de l’île Petrie
Un message personnel du vice-président, Paul Le Fort
C’est avec beaucoup de tristesse que j’annonce le décès de notre président, Al Tweddle, après une courte lutte contre le cancer.
Natif de Toronto, Allen Tweddle est diplômé en génie chimique de l’Université métropolitaine de Toronto (Ryerson) et a fait carrière au Conseil national de recherches. Al et son épouse Helen, qui nous a quitté en 2018, se sont distingués en consacrant le plus clair de leur vie adulte à la communauté, et en particulier aux jeunes, principalement par l’intermédiaire des Amis de la bibliothèque publique et de l’Association communautaire de Queenswood Heights, dont le comité des sentiers a donné naissance aux Amis de l’île Petrie en 1997.
Al Tweddle possédait un esprit universel et, lecteur vorace, il avait une belle plume.
Toute sa vie, il a conservé la curiosité de sa jeunessee, s’intéressant au monde qui l’entourait. Al était grand amateur de plein air. Il était très bien renseigné sur de nombreux sujets, en particulier les plantes sauvages et les arbres, et il était très versé sur l’histoire des peuples autochtones d’Amérique du Nord.
En tant que son bras droit pendant de nombreuses années, j’ai développé à la fois le respect de ses valeurs, de sa persévérance et de son talent pour obtenir appui et financement. Son style de gestion pouvait être persuasif, mais il était toujours bien intentionné.
Al avait un grand cœur. Pendant plus d’un quart de siècle, il est devenu un bon ami pour moi, et pour d’autres membres de notre groupe, ainsi que pour d’innombrables personnes de la communauté qu’il a servi avec tant de générosité.
Un beau jour, lors de l’une de nos nombreuses promenades dans l’île Petrie “pour inspecter les sentiers”, nous nous sommes mis d’accord sur certaines évidences: entre autres, nous avions roulé en moto, pendant nos jeunes années, mais surtout, en dépit d’avoir vieilli, nous n’avions jamais perdu cette jeunesse. Al a toujours été jeune d’esprit.
Al laisse dans le deuil un grande famille, ainsi que d’innombrables amis et associés. Il a amplement mérité que le chemin qui mène à l’île Petrie porte son nom. Il était de loin le meilleur ami de l’île Petrie.
In accordance with Al’s wishes donations may be made to the Friends of Petrie Island in his memory.
Spring Flood 2023

See drone video of flooding from 5 May 2023.
As of April 17, Tweddle Road has been closed just past the causeway. All trails became inaccessible as of April 14, because the trailheads were flooded. If you are checking the Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board site for levels, note the following approximate numbers: at 42.7 m, trailheads are flooded; at 43 m, some parts of the private road are under water; above 43 m, Tweddle Rd begins to flood, and the City will normally close access. Sunrise Tr. tends to stay dry until the river rises above 43 m. Paddlers note that under those conditions, the currents are strong, and there may be floating hazards or invisible underwater obstructions. As of April 16, a relatively normal spring flood is expected; the key is the amount of rain coming.
Crue printanière 2023
17 avril. Tweddle Road a été fermé à la circulation; actuellement, il est fermé juste après la chaussée.
Tous les sentiers sont devenus inaccessibles le 14 Avril, tous les points de départ étant sous l’eau. Si vous suivez le site de la Commission de planification de la régularisation de la rivière des Outaouais, noter les niveaux approximatifs suivants: à 42.7 m, l’accès des sentiers est sous l’eau; à 43 m, l’eau envahit le ch Tweddle et la municipalité bloque normalement l’accès. Le sentier de l’Aube a tendance à rester à sec un peu plus longtemps que les autres, jusqu’à 43 m. Pagayeurs: dans ces conditions, les courants sont forts et il y a des objets flottants, ou entre deux eaux. Au 16 avril, les autorités prévoient une crue printanière presque normale. Tout dépend de la pluie.
Welcome to Petrie Island.
Park Rules apply year round, including that dogs are not permitted anywhere on the Island. These rules protect the flora and fauna of Petrie Island and add to our visitors’ enjoyment.
https://www.petrieisland.org/before-you-visit
https://www.petrieisland.org/avant-de-visiter
If you can’t get out to Petrie Island, check out the visitor photos on our website ( upload some of your own), join our Facebook Group called Petrie Island: Our Small Wilderness, and follow our page.
Are you a nature lover? Are you passionate about Petrie?
Check out the benefits of becoming a member and joining volunteer opportunities.
https://www.petrieisland.org/get-involved
Please note that there is a current outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Ontario. If you find a goose, duck or other water bird that is sick or deceased, please report it to the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative at 1-866-673-4781 or online at cwhc-rcsf.ca.
Friends of Petrie Island – 2022 Activities
Summer programming has been completed. Trails are still open; parking is free. There are no amenities on the Island after Thanksgiving so plan your visit accordingly. Friends of Petrie Island (FOPI) continues to monitor the Island and Wednesday work days will proceed weather permitting. It was a great year!
- Wednesday Work Days- Wednesday mornings 9-12
- Nature Trail maintenance
- Lookout Benches
- Clean up Day
- Family and Friends Guided Tours
- Children’s Naturalist sessions
- Tent and picnic table rentals – https://www.petrieisland.org/picnic-area
- Barbeque permits – https://www.petrieisland.org/picnic-area
- Interpretive signage
- Dogwood maze and Fairy House
- driftwood carvings
- Wildflower Garden
- Turtle conservation- in collaboration with Canadian Wildlife Federation and University of Ottawa
- Turtle Release Days
- Invasive species removal – ongoing
Join us by purchasing a membership and/or becoming a volunteer. https://www.petrieisland.org/get-involved
