Category: News

Artist Robert Bateman has sent a strong message of censure to the Town of Comox, which has now sent a petition to the BC Superme Court to overturn the Mack Laing Trust and demolish Shakesides, the house naturalist Hamilton Mack Laing built in 1950. Bateman, who has been aware of the campaigns by the Mack…

On April 4, 2017, the Town of Comox filed a petition with the BC Supreme Court to overturn the Mack Laing Trust, demolish Shakesides and create a viewing platform, violating the original terms of the Trust, which required the Town to create a “natural history museum” in Shakesides. The Town claims there wasn’t enough money…

The Comox Valley Land Trust has sent a letter to the Town of Comox requesting a “collaborative solution” to saving Shakesides from demolition. “The Comox Valley Conservation Partnership (CVCP) steering committee is requesting Council to consider the proposal put forward by Comox Valley Nature Society before moving forward with the resolution to demolish “Shakesides.” Read…

On March 9, 2017, BC Nature, which represents the Federation of BC Naturalists, sent a letter to the Town of Comox Chief Executive Officer, Richard Kanigan,m expressing support for “the development of Hamilton Mack Laing’s former home “Shakesides” as a public nature or natural history house, as expressed in his Trust of 1982”. The letter…

The Comox-Valley Naturalists Society (CVNS) has stated its objection to the Town of Comox’s application to change the Trust of noted Canadian naturalist, Hamilton Mack Laing (1883-1982). CVNS, established in 1966 and formerly known as The Comox-Strathcona Natural History Society, has been since at least 1979, a more than willing partner to bring about the…

“Mack Laing Matters!” That is the slogan the Mack Laing Heritage Society is using for its upcoming fundraiser at The Little Red Church on Saturday, February 25. There has been much discussion in the newspapers about the Mack Laing legacy “question.” [See, for instance, Gillian Anderson’s January 10, 2017, “Letter” in The Record or Kevin…

On February 1, 2017 (ironically, just 4 days before Mack Laing’s birthday) Comox Council voted to go to BC Supreme Court to overturn the Hamilton Mack Laing Trust, ignore the wishes expressed in Laing’s Will, and violate the intention of a generous, nationally famous naturalist and environmentalist. Not included in the report to Council is…

The Mack Laing Society continues to gather support to prevent the demolition of Mack Laing’s last home, Shakesides, and to adapt it into a nature museum, as stated in his Will, and in the Trust agreement he signed with the Town of Comox. To date, over 900 people have signed a petition to save Shakesides…