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 pressure mounts on Comox
With new organizations and high-profile individuals joining the movement to preserve the waterfront home of internationally known naturalist and Town of Comox benefactor Hamilton Mack Laing, there are rumors that some Comox Council members might reconsider the town’s...
Letters provide new revelations in the ongoing Mack Laing saga
Two documents have recently surfaced that indicate the Town of Comox had discussions with the Comox Valley Natural History Society about creating a natural history museum in the home of Hamilton Mack Laing. The letters also indicate the society’s interest to take on...
Will Comox ignore Heritage B.C. plea to save Shakesides?
Let’s see if we understand this accurately: An independent and nationally recognized heritage consulting firm issued a Statement of Significance regarding the former home of naturalist Mack Laing -- known as “Shakesides.” They said the building is of national...
Shakesides: Comox erases lively murals
With the popular summer festivals coming up this weekend in Comox -- Filberg Festival and Nautical Days -- the town likes to get all gussied up. Plants watered and weeded. Streets swept and lines repainted. Lawns mowed, and so on. But this annual beautification...
Make Shakesides a community project
By voting unanimously last week to demolish Shakesides, the home of noted Canadian naturalist Hamilton Mack Laing, the Comox Town Council has failed to recognize a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build community cohesiveness. Hamilton Mack Laing was a naturalist,...
Was Shakesides’ advisory process flawed?
When he died in 1982, well-known Canadian naturalist Hamilton Mack Laing left his possessions, his property and house,and his money to the Town of Comox. His Last Will specified that some of the money be used to create a natural history museum in his house and to...
Concerns over handling of Laing trust aren’t new
Questions about the Town of Comox's handling of the Mack Laing Trust are not new. Citizens expressed concern many years ago, including Comox Valley Citizen of the Year Ruth Masters. In April of 2001, she wrote to then Mayor George Kirkwood and councillors asking for...
Laing’s last wishes deserve more respect
Hamilton Mack Laing has probably turned over in his grave more than once since his death in 1982. Because if the famous Canadian naturalist, photographer and writer suddenly came alive today, he’d be shocked and angry at how the Town of Comox has fumbled his gift of...