Who was Hamilton Mack Laing
Hamilton Mack Laing was an important Canadian naturalist, photographer and writer. He moved to Comox in 1922, cleared his land and built his home from a “Stanhope” Aladdin Ready-Cut kit. In 1927, he married Ethel Hart of Portland and they established a successful and commercial orchard which included walnut, pecan, filbert, hazelnut, apple and plum trees. They also grew mushrooms and vegetables. After his wife, Ethel, died in 1944, he sold his original home, Baybrook, and built a new home, Shakesides, on the adjoining lot. He bequeathed the waterfront property to the Town of Comox and it became Mack Laing Nature Park — excerpted from content on the Mack Laing Heritage Society‘s website.
Important Links
Comox Town Council
Russ Arnott, Mayor: rarnott@comox.ca
Alex Bissinger: abissinger@comox.ca
Nicole Minions: nminions@comox.ca
Patrick McKenna: pmckenna@comox.ca
Ken Grant: kgrant@comox.ca
Maureen Swift: mswift@comox.ca
Stephanie McGowan: smcgowan@comox.ca
The Mack Laing Trust: BC Supreme Court hears arguments in 40-year case
Mack Laing Heritage Society says the Town of Comox is in a rush to clean up a mess of its own making, while town and Attorney General lawyers call The Society’s evidence “irrelevant.”
The Week: Comox Council again cancels court dates to resolve Mack Laing obligation
The Comox Town Council has once again scheduled and canceled BC Supreme Court trial dates to resolve the Mack Laing Trust issue, revealing that it has no plan and, meanwhile, continues to hide its true intentions from the taxpaying public
Wildwood: A community model for creating jobs and revenue within ecological parameters
A small charitable society has restored a heritage home and property with the help of local government into a self-sustaining and job-creating destination for people from all over the world. It’s a possible model for Mack Laing’s property and home
Heritage BC joins fight to save Shakesides, warns AG of dangerous precedent
Heritage BC warns Attorney General David Eby that allowing Town of Comox to alter terms of Mack Laing trust sets a dangerous precedent for heritage conservation
BC heritage professionals lobby cabinet ministers to conserve Shakesides
The BC Association of Heritage Professionals warns provincial cabinet ministers of the serious precedent that could be set by varying Mack Laing’s trust agreement with the Town of Comox to preserve Shakesides
BC attorney general appears to argue both sides of cases similar to Mack Laing battle
In West Vancouver, BC attorney general sues a municipality for breach of trust. In the Town of Comox, the attorney general defends breaching Mack Laing’s trust. Is the agency’s perspective changing?
Harley-riding Hamilton Mack Laing fills the hall after 104 years
Comox legendary naturalist Hamilton Mack Laing’s account of his motorcycle ride from New York to the San Francisco World Exhibition of 1915 is now available in a new edition of his memoir
AG delays Shakesides court date by nearly five months
In a surprising new development, the BC Attorney General has requested a delay in the Supreme Court trial that will determine the fate of Shakesides, the heritage home of Comox pioneer Hamilton Mack Laing
Comox failed to consult with KFN over Mack Laing Park
Now that Chief Nicole Rempel has made it clear the Town of Comox failed to properly consult the K’omoks First Nations about plans to demolish Mack Laing’s heritage home, a serious question arises: With whom did town staff and council members consult?
Council vote sends Mack Laing Trust issue back to court
Comox Town Council voted 5-2 this week to continue designing a viewing platform to replace naturalist Mack Laing’s heritage home, rejecting any other proposals for the property, as it prepares to head back to the BC Supreme Court.
Town creates confusion, rift over Mack Laing process
The Town of Comox’s self-imposed period of reconsideration about the future of Mack Laing Park has created division not unity, and a growing rift on the issue among town councillors.
MLHS issues letter of thanks to Comox Council
Mack Laing Heritage Society archive photo By George Le Masurier he Mack Laing Heritage Society this morning issued an open letter to the Town of Comox mayor and council. Here is their letter: We, the Mack Laing...