Join the Mack Laing Heritage Society in a small celebration of Mack Laing’s 133rd birthday on Saturday, at 2 p.m., at his former home of Shakesides, in Mack Laing Park, weather permitting.
Tea and cookies will be served for a non-alcoholic toast to this teetotaller who loved Comox. Visitors are reminded that the Mack Laing Park and Baybrook are walk-in only.
Coincidentally, just in time for Laing’s birthday, the MLHS has been honoured with a 2016 Heritage BC award. The award, under the Education and Awareness category, recognizes the work of the society over the past three years.
Laing moved to Comox in 1922 and built Baybrook House. In 1949, he sold Baybrook and built Shakesides on the adjoining property. In 1973, he deeded his property to the Town in perpetuity, as a nature park for recreation and conservation purposes. It was named Mack Laing Park. He lived in Shakesides until his death in 1982. A well-known and respected ornithologist and naturalist, Laing wrote hundreds of magazine articles and took thousands of photographs during the course of his long life. He died at the age of 99.
A selection of his articles and photographs is available on the MLHS website (www.macklaingsociety.ca), while some of his personal effects and artwork may be seen at the Comox Archives and Museum.
