The Mack Laing Heritage Society (MLHS) is completely supportive of an elegant proposal by the Merville Community Association (MCA), to relocate Mack Laing’s Shakeside House from Mack Laing Park on the Comox waterfront to their property in Merville. Since the MCA announced their intention, they have received broad public support to place this historic house adjacent to other historical buildings on their property.
The MLHS also views this proposal, to have Nickel Brothers move the house by barge, as a win for the environment, which would leave the K’omoks First Nations midden undisturbed and avoid demolition costs and landfill usage.
Above all, this would respect the stated wishes of Mack Laing, an eminent Canadian naturalist, that his house be made publicly accessible and be used to educate about the natural world.
– John Duncan, Chair, MLHS
The MCA’s 3 acre (1.2 hectare) site offers the large Big Yellow Hall, two heritage buildings, and a grassy recreational space that is utilized by surrounding area residents for event and facility rentals. The MCA plays host to several annual community events including the Fiddle Fest, Christmas Craft Fair, Heritage Fall Fair, and Garlic Fest. Visit their website for more: https://mervillehall.ca/