Baybrook plan is an opportunity

I am writing as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Comox Valley Project Watershed Society and as one of the founding Directors of the newly established Mack Laing Heritage Society of the Comox Valley.

A considerable amount of volunteer effort has gone into the activities, proposals and reports presented to the Comox Council for this new Society.

Our plans provide a huge opportunity for the Town of Comox and the Comox Valley in general. We feel that this project represents a very important affirmation and consolidation of the Comox Valley’s environmental community, its heritage, its history, and its public service. The acceptance and implementation of the Mack Laing Reports would provide an important focal point and outreach for our community. I believe the information in the two reports made to Council, clearly states our goals and objectives. It is my feeling that these goals are completely in harmony with what the Town Council would like with respect to the promotion of the Comox by the Sea concept to attract tourists and new residents to the town.

There has been some concern, misrepresentation and misinterpretation of the contents of the reports by a few who have been very prolific. The Mack Laing Society has produced a fact information pamphlet to clarify our goals and objectives for those who did not read the two reports, but want to understand what we are trying to accomplish for the entire Comox Valley. They may be confused by what is being expressed in letters published in local papers, which distort the contents of the two reports and information pamphlet.

My colleagues on the ML Society Board have written responses in the media and I will not reiterate what they have written.

The CV Nature has been active in carrying out stewardship work in the Comox Valley for over 50 years. Its record is unblemished and outstanding. Project Watershed has been carrying out stewardship activities in all of the watersheds of the Comox Valley for 21 years.

All the local Councils and the Regional District Board are very aware of our stewardship activities on behalf of all of the communities of the Valley.

I will simply say that our case has been made in two well-conceived professional reports and our information document. The Comox Council will be able to assess these reports and determine what is fact from fiction. In our democratic society, it will be this Council (probably the one elected in November) that will make the decision on the Mack Laing Heritage proposal.

Sincerely yours,

Paul A. Horgen, Mack Laing Society Director

Currently Chair of the Comox Valley Project Watershed Society

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