Glenda McDonell has been a promoter of Scottish music throughout her life. The Glengarry Celtic Music Hall of Fame acknowledges her success in obtaining the space in our hall as well as her service as a committee member for two years.

Raised in Williamstown, the daughter of Allan Edward and Cecilia McDonell, Glenda studied dancing with Joan Dicaire and George Montgomery. After retirement she took fiddle lessons from David MacPhee.

In her teaching career in St. Elizabeth School and later St. Thomas Moore in Ottawa, Glenda promoted Glengarry talent by having musicians and dancers entertain from her native Glengarry.

As a board member of The Friends of St. Raphael’s Ruins she arranged concerts featuring Rita McNeil, The Banchory Scottish Orchestra, Dave MacDonald of Nova Scotia, Louise-Andree Baril and John McDermott. She also promoted the production of the 25th anniversary CD by the Brigadoons as well as Msgr D B McDougald’s CD, My Bonnie Native Glen. This CD was recorded in the Basilica in Alexandria. She was also responsible for the success of the Bishop MacDonell Commemorative mass of 2004 at the Ruins.

As a ten year director of Clan Donald Glengarry Stormont, she worked assiduously for the chapter bursaries to deserving young students of Celtic music and dance. Glenda was voted in as High Commissioner of Clan Donald at an AGM in Pictou, Nova Scotia. She was also awarded recognition as a cultural ambassador by the Nova Scotia Award from the Lt Governor.

Glenda has indeed given her energy and intelligence to the promotion of Glengarry culture and richly deserves the recognition as an inductee into the Glengarry Celtic Music Hall of Fame!