Category: News

  • What a year! MLHS looks back on 2016 …

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    The MLHS wishes everyone a very happy holiday season, with sincere thanks for your support. A pdf of the photo montage below may be downloaded HERE: 2016mlhsmontagehires Note: The bench seen in the lower right of the montage, next to the trillium, was hand built by Mack Laing. It was photographed on the front porch…

  • Shakesides receives Historic Statement of Significance

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    Well known heritage consultants Elana Zysblat and John Atkin have recently completed an evaluation of the significance of Shakesides, the Comox residence of Hamilton Mack Laing. Elana and John are experienced heritage consultants, well-known in British Columbia for their engagement with communities, leadership in public programs and tours related to local heritage topics, historical research,…

  • The power of words – and how they are used

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    Re: “Bias not a dirty word, says ex-councillor”, The CV Record, July 26, 2016. Let’s talk about words. As a former leader of the BC Liberals and Comox ex-councillor, you will be well aware of the power of words and how they can be used to incite or defame. Going back to your September 2014…

  • Baybrook Memorial – August 6, 2016

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    Baybrook: 1923-2015 The plaque on the memorial cairn behind Shakesides in Mack Laing Nature Park quotes Henry David Thoreau. Thoreau and Mack Laing had much in common. Laing carved his Baybrook property from old growth forest, then in 1923, he bought and built an Aladdin Reddi-Cut kit house. These houses are listed in the heritage…

  • MLHS thanks John Duncan

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    Members of the MLHS were happy to be given the opportunity to thank former MP John Duncan for his support as it attempted to save Baybrook for public use as a nature interpretive centre. Two MLHS members attended the official retirement party for Mr Duncan at Mt. Washington, Saturday, July 30, 2016. Thanks to the…

  • Message received: Positive response

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    The MLHS had a display on Comox Ave during the first three days of the Filberg Festival and had wonderful conversations with a lot of people from the Comox Valley and elsewhere. The majority were aware of the Shakesides saga and all were disgusted and saddened that elected officials could be behaving in a manner…

  • Shakesides windows returned to “neutral”

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    The Shakesides Windows Saga On February 6, 2016, MLHS members discovered that the plywood covering the front windows of Shakesides had been defaced with common graffiti. A member purchased a can of black spray paint  and covered up the offensive notation on the large front window. In early June, MLHS’ resident artist, a fine arts…

  • Reflections on Shakesides – by Richard Mackie – July 2016

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    [Please note: The following details are from my biography of Laing, published by Sono Nis Press in 1985: Hamilton Mack Laing: Hunter-Naturalist]. The naturalist, writer, and biologist Hamilton Mack Laing (1883-1982) built and lived in two houses on the Comox waterfront. He moved to Comox in 1922 because it was then the “bird mecca” of…