Press
BACKGROUND NOTE:
Before the demolition of Baybrook in August 2015, the MLHS accepted the advice of the Town of Comox to concentrate on Baybrook house, rather than Shakesides, having been informed that Baybrook was more suitable for conversion into a public nature house (in accordance with Mack Laing’s wishes) in the new public park.
Demolition of Baybrook was postponed in late 2013 and the MLHS was granted permission to produce a proposal for using Baybrook for this purpose. At the time of these discussions, Shakesides had a sitting tenant paying rental to the Town and was considered to be in good condition.
In February 2015, despite professionally-produced renovation and business plans, presented to the Town by the MLHS in the summer and fall of 2014, Comox Council voted to demolish both Baybrook and Shakesides. Baybrook was demolished in August 2015, but the intervention of the Attorney General of BC prevented the demolition of Shakesides, which was a trust property owned by the Town of Comox. It had very clear legal instructions and conditions pertaining to its public use, laid down by Mack Laing, and accepted by the Town – but never adhered to.
After the demolition of Baybrook, the MLHS commissioned professionals to examine Shakesides, and having been assured that the building was sound, proceeded to gather support for its preservation as a public, heritage house, in recognition of the importance of Mack Laing to all Canadians, and according to his stated wishes in his Will and the Trust documents signed with the Town of Comox.
The following documents and press statements outline the efforts of the MLHS to preserve both Mack Laing’s heritage homes.
LHS Business Plan for Shakesides:ShakesidesBusinessPlan Oct29 2018sm
MLHS AGM 2016: MLHSPressReleaseAGM2016 MLHS ART DAY POSTER
Accountant’s Report on Mack Laing Trust Fund:MoellerHMLTrustFundCalculations
Questions arise about Town of Comox accounting of Mack Laing Trust: MLHSPressRelease AccountantsReport June1 2016
Briony Penn awarded Mack Laing Literary Prize: BCN Briony Penn May 18, 2016
It’s time to honour Mack Laing’s Will: Press Release April 4 2016
The Invasives Removal Gallery: InvasiveRemovalGallery
Mack Laing Society tackles invasives: MLHSinvasivesPR
Press Release March 22, 2015 – “Artist Brian Scott donates paintings of Mack Laing homes”: BrianScottDonationToMLHS
Press Release, March 2, 2015 – “Demolition of Mack Laing’s Baybrook and Shakesides Homes – the last vestige
of Comox heritage”: MLHSDemolitionNewsRelease
About Baybrook, February 12, 2015: AboutBaybrook
Hamilton Mack Laing Biography, February 12, 2015: HMLbio1page
Press Release, February 6, 2015 -“Mack Laing’s birthday celebrated”:PressReleaseFeb 6 2015 MLHSBirthday
Report – “Why Hamilton Mack Laing matters today” – by Loys Maingon, December 8, 2014: MackLaingbyLoysMaingon
Press Release, November 25, 2014 – “NIC art student finds inspiration at Baybrook”:MLHSPressReleaseDeniseLawson Nov 25 2014
Press Release, November 2014 – “Baybrook was ‘Life’s Best Adventure’ for Mack Laing”: MLHS PressRelease 1 Nov 24 2014
MLHS Brochure, September 2014: MLHSBrochureSeptember 2014
Final MLHS Report to Town of Comox, August 2014: Final Mack Laing House Report Phase 2
MLHS Report to Town of Comox, September 2013: Mack Laing House Report