Will is known for his beautifully detailed recreations of BC Transit vehicles from SkyTrain cars to classic Translink busses. While this isn’t the first time one of Will’s designs has caught the eye of the transit loving public, his newest model of The Pacific Breeze SeaBus, is shaping up to a crowd favorite.
In a recently published article, written by Nick Laba of North Shore News, Will details his building experience, piece count, and why he chose the Pacific Breeze for this 1:40 scale model.
A few of Will’s other designs have included a replica of Streetcar 153 and various Translink buses such as the D40LF. Be sure to follow Will on Instagram and on Flicker for more incredible builds.
Welcome to the beautiful Railway Museum of British Columbia. This historical site based in Squamish set the backdrop to the Squamish train Museum. What started out as a small show in 2013 has grown into a phenomenal display of town and train that featured a Via rail, an Orient Express, and of course a Canadian Pacific rail among many other trains.
Built by David B
Our display proved to be one of the largest we have ever built for a Train layout. It included both 9v track looping at one end of the display and a standard track at the other. With the multiple trains set to run throughout the layout, we had to design the perfect accompaniments. Our builders did not disappoint!
Built by Neil S, Kyler S, Andrew R, Allan C, David B, Brian C, Deanna M, Toto M
We start in the more rural of the display where trains passed farmlands, fields of tulips and lavender. As the trains zipped through the farmlands fans were delighted to see various animals, breathtaking buildings, and farm equipment such as a harvester and combine and tractors.
Built by Kyler SBuilt by Deanna MBuilt by Kyler S
Turning from the farmlands, our trains journeyed past a serene bayside and a construction zone as it made its way to Pop Culture square. This lively and vibrant neighborhood is always a fan favorite. With bright coloured buildings and streets, there is something for everyone to see spanning their favorite fandom genres.
Built by Daniel WBuilt by Neil SBuilt by Neil S
As we pull away from Pop culture Square, we round the corner under a brick built bridge. On our way to pull into the staging area, our train passengers get the opportunity to wave over the the passengers on the 9v track venturing through the city.
Built by Neil S, Andrew R, Allan C, David B.
Waving hello to our friends on the standard line, we find our 9v train rounding the corner under the bridge to drop passengers through the bustling metropolis. Here we find streets lined with shops, apartments, cultural venues and streets lined with vehicles.
Built by Allan C. Brian C, Toto M
Passing through the city, guests aboard our train travel down the seaside, taking in the spectacular views of the shoreline, boats drifting in the currents, and a feverish race by competing dragon boaters!
Built by Val D and Neil S
Though trains were the theme and highlight of the show, a few other notable transit and vehicle models made their way to the display. Most notable were the Vancouver Sea Bus and BC Transit busses built by Will Fong. Another notable entry was the Tesla built by Steven Stelter.
The Squamish Train show is always a favorite of ours to attend. We love the historic building and the opportunities to create new and wonderful builds.
What an incredible weekend of celebrating the pop culture fandom. Whether you are into video games, anime, movies and TV, or music, Our Lego Display this year had something for everyone!
This year video games took center stage. In our GBC area, Mario and the gang where cruising down the Rainbow Road. Fans young and young at heart took turns scooping balls and sending them through the wonders of our Great Ball Contraption created by Neil Snowball and Matt Norman. The little orange balls traveled along the Rainbow Road, through a rainbow corridor, down the toilet drain, and through the rotating orbit of the GBC sign.
Next up we visit a snap shot into the world of Halo as we visit an outpost base. This diorama created by Allybricks, takes you through the battle zone of a classic Red vs Blue conflict of capture the flag. Here we see soldiers, Mongoose ATVs, and one very victorious Blue soldier.
Continuing through video game nostalgia, we take a look at a few interactive consoles. Nintendo, Atarii, and Pac-Man were on display. These official Lego designs built by Deanna Martins, were a crowd favorite. Groups of fans gathered around to watch the mechanisms turn and the games come to life.
What pop culture fandom would be complete without a nod to the Star wars universe? Several dioramas were created by Sean Jackson, depicting classic Star wars moments. From the battle in the Throne Room, Duel on Mustafar, to the newer duel between Kylo and Rey, this builds captured some of our favorite screen moments.
Let’s explore now the world of Movies, TV, and Anime. Starting off the mosaics. Here we can see Melinda Moar’s lovable Merc with a Mouth on display next to a couple notable Star Wars Characters created by Kyler Storm. While Vancouver’s own Ryan Reynolds was not in attendance, Star Wars’ Hayden Christensen was!
We are off to the East Blue with our anime entry, “Going Merry,” from One Piece. This build created by Val Dmitrieff, captures the iconic ship, the Going Merry, as it sets sail down the East Blue in search of Gol D. Roger’s famed One Piece.
No fandom would be complete without a nod to a musical Icon. In this build, Paul Hetherington, celebrates not one, but four icons of rock! This Lego creation was definitely built on rock and Roll as we pay homage to the band Kiss.
This year there was so much to see and experience we couldn’t cover it all. We hope you enjoyed a snap shot of FanExpo 2025!
Welcome to Part 2 of our look back at 2024. January thru June was off to a busy start. With community events, convention season up and running and a couple shows under our belt, we were ready to face the next 6 months head on.
July was a packed month! We took on a new museum partnership with the city of Port Moody, BC. Eight builders and three weeks, produced one of the most spectacular recreations of Port Moody’s iconic Rocky Point. From brewery row, to the jetted pier, visitors were treated to memorable sights in Lego form. The event took place at the PoMo Museum and lasted from July until October 2024.
July continued into convention season with VLCer Will stopping in at Brickfair, Virginia to showcase his Battle Bricks. While Neil and Joanne flew down to Austin, Texas to check out Brick Rodeo!
August kicked off with a special opportunity to partner with the Starlight Children’s Foundation. VLCer Val joined the Starlight foundation out at Misson Raceway in Misson, BC to bring together the thrill of supercars and Lego. Children and their families took turns designing their very own Lego racecars before jumping into a supercar to take a zip out on the race track.
August continued to be the month of collaborations and exceptional community engagements as we joined London Farm days in historic Steveston, BC. This beautiful four-acre farm set the backdrop to a day of fun for the whole family. We were so excited to bring our love of Lego and botanicals out. Families created flowers, butterflies and more to display on a giant brick build flower.
Keeping theme with the agricultural sector, a few VLCers were invited out to Abbottsford, BC to join our good friends at FVLUG (Fraser Valley Lego Users Group) for their show, Agrifair. The Lego event was a train show that blended different adaptations of agriculture life with modern cities. It truly showcased the amalgamation of history, farmlands, and cityscapes.
August was a busy month but we were not done yet! Several members of the VLC traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah for the Brick Slopes 10 year anniversary celebration. The high energy and creative atmosphere were the precursors to what would be an amazing weekend.
Neil and Joanne were awarded with the Be Better Builders award for their continued dedication to building up the Lego community both at home and internationally. Neil also took home the award for best GBC module in “Mariokart Rainbow Road.”
VLCer Paul won the award for best Pop Culture build for “The Hottest Band In The World…Kiss!”
In September several VLCer’s took a road trip down to Seattle for BrickCon, “The world’s longest running convention.” This was a wonderful weekend full of good friends, amazing eats, and of course a few awards too!
VLCer John won the award “Were gonna need a bigger boat” for his recreation of a classic fire boat.
VLCer Paul won the award “Power in Function,” for his incredible build, “Tiki Madness.”
While September seemed to slow down for a moment, it was all in preparation for what was to come in October and November!
With October finally here, it was time for the VLC’S very first show that was truly a show all our own. VLC Brick Day took place at Scottsdale Center in Delta, BC. Members showcased their MOC’s from historic houses, an array of vehicles large and small, fantasy creations, GBC’s and so much more! Of course it wouldn’t have been a VLC show with out a fun collab! It was the right amount of creative prowess and variation in build styles. There really was something for everyone young and old to enjoy.
With our first Brick day in the books, it was time to head over to Nanaimo, BC for Mid Island Brick Fest. A few members of the VLC were fortunate enough to be invited to Nanaimo for MILUG’s (Mid Island Lego Users Group) show. What a phenomenal experience! MILUG certainly know how to hold a captivating good time. There were tables of MOC’s from mosaics to fantasy builds, from Blacktron to an outstanding Portal collab. What really made this event stand out was the community connection MILUG has. Visitors young and young at heart had so much to do. Families were invited to build Wacky Racers, play Lego bingo, and participate in a quiet area if visitors needed some downtime.
November was full of excitement as it brought us to the Vancouver Train Expo. This was the second largest train show the VLC participated in 2024. With a layout just shy of 30′ x 30′, we upped our train game to something really spectacular! Guest were treated to replica recreations of classic Vancouver street cars and transit lines. Visitors could watch seven different trains zipping through Legoized versions of Gastown, and East Van to iconic tulip fields of Abbottsford, and costal beaches of Port Moody.
With the event so close to Halloween, visitors had a hauntingly good time spotting several areas of the layout with a spooky twist. Spider covered lavender fields, rich forests leading to something strange, a looming gothic cathedral reviling the residents of the neighboring cemetery, and the star of the show, a kraken reaching out from the deep! We had such a fun time creating this layout. The cherry on top was winning the People’s Choice award the second year in a row. Best train layout 2024! It was an amazing way to cap off our show season.
With December’s arrival, the VLC had one of the most important events left. The VLC and Fraser Valley Bricks annual toy drive for the Surrey Christmas Bureau was taking place. This event raises donations for local families in need for Christmas. This is an event that is so close to our hearts and the perfect way to cap off an extraordinary year of community building. 2024 would see the largest donation made yet at $10,850. We are so honored by all who donated this year. With that said, none of this would be what it is, without Andrew (Fraser Valley Bricks) leading the helm of such a wonderful cause!
And with that, 2024 comes to a close! It has been an incredible year of supporting our communities, raising up our fellow AFOLs, and pushing the limits of the brick.
From all of us at the VLC: Thank you for coming on this journey with us. Wishing you all a Happy New Year!
2024 was a wonderful year for the VLC both for the club and it’s members. Join me as we take a look back through the first six months of the year.
January was off to a great start. The VLC was in full swing with our partnership with the Museum of Surrey. With over 30 builders, a full wing of the museum, and a dash of classic nostalgia, we put together an incredible array of displays. From far away forests opening up to medieval farm lands and jousting tourneys, to Island adventures through kraken infested waters and swarthy ports of call in deep space. Lego fans young and old were treated to an array of incredible builds.
February was the month of Pop Culture inspirations and Fan Expo. VLC members curated an assortment of builds, showcasing the vast variety in MOC building. Fans were treated to mosaics featuring beloved cartoon characters, avenging towers, GBC builds, and Star Wars galore!
March brought with it our AGM and a new group of directors with big plans for the club in the year ahead.
Our good friends down in Portland held Bricks Cascade in March where “Pop Culture Square” made its debut. Pop Culture Square was the brainchild of Neil and Joanne, a husband-and-wife duo that perfectly captured well-known homes and cityscapes. From Barbie and Back to the Future, to Harry Potter and The Flintstones, these iconic landmarks hit there mark.
April was off to a fantastic start as the VLC represented in force at BrickCan in Vancouver. There were 20+ members who joined in on the fun and creativity of our local Lego convention. A very welcome surprise was the number of first-time builders displaying their MOCs. VLC and its members even took home several awards!
May saw warmer days and the VLC’s largest train display of the year! Welcome to the Cloverdale Rodeo! This year’s display saw the layout grow to an impressive 30′ x 30′. The display took a notable agriculture and rural route as the trains crisscrossed through flower fields, farmlands, and breathtaking forests before stopping to pick up passengers in neighboring towns and cities.
VLCer and Certified Professional, Robin Sather was on-site to entertain visitors with his massive recreation of a cowboy boot made of Duplo!
June was the month to give back to our local communities. We were invited to participate in the Canuck Place, Family Appreciation Day. This was a wonderful event which brought together past and present families, volunteers, and staff of the hospice, for a bit of fun and play. Over 200 people participated in the event. We were honored to have been asked to have been a part of such a memorable event.
The Scandinavian Festival was our next stop in June celebrating all things Scandinavian in Burnaby! With the warm weather and excitement of the event, the VLC’s display was a welcomed quiet reprieve. Visitors were greeted to vibrant mosaics, lush forest displays, and vases full of beautiful botanicals.
I hope you have enjoyed the look back through the highlights of January through June 2024. We are only getting started! Part two takes us from July through December in a whirlwind of shows, conventions, awards and so much more! Stay tuned…
Would it be cool to have your MOC made into a LEGO set? Most of use will never have that happen, but through the Bricklink Designer Program, it’s made it one step more accessible for a lot of AFOLs to achieve.
Bricklink just launched their 5th iteration of their Designer Program and one of our VLC directors, Derek Brameyer has two that you can vote for till June 14th.
The first is based on the story of The Old Lady in the Shoe which would make a fabulous play set for kids or maybe at the end of your street of LEGO modular buildings.
Click on the link below to find out more about the build, the backstory and most importantly, if you would like this design to become a set to please give your vote to it.
The second is The Jingle Jet which may just hold the answer to how Santa visits so many households every year on Christmas Eve.
Santa’s sleigh got a sweet upgrade! Hop aboard The Jingle Jet and witness the fastest gift giving in the galaxy!
Click on the link below to find out more about the story of this Vic Viper inspired build and exactly what powers it up. Consider giving it your vote, if it’s one that you want to swoosh over your Christmas LEGO winter village.
Derek is an avid and prolific LEGO builder, constantly coming up with ever more creative ideas for his next build. He’s also a very fast, winning the Elite Speed build at BrickCan for the past two years.
Last year at BrickCan 2023, our membership introduced a VLC Choice Award to the many awards that are handed out over the weekend. We wanted to recognize a MOC (My Own Creation) that isn’t the biggest nor splashiest and that isn’t likely to win the Best in Show. We’re wanting to award it to a LEGO build that is small to medium size, that shows creativity, great parts usage, aesthetics, and/or just something that sets it apart from the rest. Our members nominate MOCs to be considered and then a panel of five makes the final decision.
This year the VLC Choice Award at BrickCan 2024 went to Sundae Joyride – Ice Cream Kids “Go Kart” – TsunamiK (Todd K). Way to go!
Photo by Alex Saar
“We were happy to select Sundae Joyride by Todd K as our VLC Choice winner this year. It had a super fun story, great aesthetics, and wonderful use of color and varied techniques. We felt that it was an iconic and family friendly build that encapsulated so much fun and whimsy. Congrats Todd!” – Derek Brameyer, designer of the VLC Choice award trophy.
Wouldn’t you like to a own a little piece of Vancouver? Maybe a Vancouver Special, the Rio Theatre, Science World, New Town Bakery? Well, now you can. Just in miniature… and in LEGO.
Meet Alex, Constructor-in-Chief at Heritage Bricks. Alex started Heritage Bricks back in 2020 as a way to share their love for LEGO and Vancouver. They design and package their own custom micro-scale models of local landmarks using genuine LEGO® pieces.
If you want to purchase one of these fantastic models, you can see what is currently available for purchase or pre-order on their website https://www.heritagebricks.ca/s/shop. Alex will be re-issuing many limited edition models this holiday season. You will be able to find them at the Eastside Flea holiday market again this year.
Perhaps you have an iconic building or landmark that you want recreated. Feel free to inquire and engage Alex for a commission build. https://www.heritagebricks.ca/customprojects
Thank you to those of you who visited us at this year’s Cloverdale Rodeo and Fair. Hopefully you were there for one of the sunny days, but even if you were one who were escaping the rain by ducking into the Buckaroo Barn, we appreciate your coming to see our train, city and farm display.
Throughout the course of the four days, Robin Sather, one of Canada’s two Lego Certified Professionals and the BrickMaster (judge) of LEGO Masters New Zealand, built this massive cowboy boot out of LEGO Duplo elements.
photo: Allan Corbeil subject: Robin Sather, big Duplo boot build
Here are some photos of our biggest train display that we’ve built to date at the 2024 Cloverdale Rodeo & Fair. We brought over 548 baseplates or 380 sq ft for you all to enjoy. Thanks to all our members who organized, planned, contributed and built for this display, it truly is a group effort.
photos: Allan Corbeil
photos: Deanna Martins
Hope we’ll see you next time at the London Farms Family Farm Day in Richmond in August.
It’s always fascinating to see how people use LEGO in different ways to create art. This CBC article was posted last December, but I’ve only come across it now. You should definitely learn more about how Vancouverite Katherine Duclos sees and uses colour and its tactile nature through the art medium of the LEGO brick.
The VLC is a social group of adults who love all things LEGO and gather monthly to discuss and build with the brick. We also have LEGO displays and exhibitions around the Lower Mainland. Here are our upcoming events.
We’re also on Facebook! This is not our official communication channel, but is a way for the public to engage with us online. As well, you can find us on Instagram.
Please note that most of our LEGO User Group's activity on our site takes place in private Forums and Discord and in person at monthly meetings. To find out more please contact our membership director.
We are NOT to be confused with The LEGO® Group of companies. We do NOT represent them in any manner, nor do they endorse, sponsor or authorize the VLC. We are simply enthusiasts, builders, hobbyists and consumers of the many wonderful things that The LEGO® Group produces.
