Today’s guest article is by Val Dmitrieff from Vancouver, Canada, who is the current Vice President and charity coordinator for the VLC (formerly Vancouver LEGO Club), which is celebrating its 25th year as a group.

Origins of the VLC

It’s hard to believe it’s been 25 years since a handful of LEGO fans in Vancouver, Canada decided to make things official. What started as a few like-minded enthusiasts gathering around kitchen tables has grown into a thriving, award-winning, community-driven LEGO club known as VLC—Vancouver’s Community for Adult Fans of LEGO.

Back in the late 90s and early 2000s, AFOL life in western Canada wasn’t quite what it is today. If you were lucky, you found someone on LUGNET. If you were really lucky, you made the trip to Seattle to hang out with SeaLUG. But for a group of LEGO fans in the Vancouver area—Robin, Dean, Alex, Bryan, Andrew, and Kevin—the goal was simple: build a local community where AFOLs didn’t have to travel hours away.

They started small. Monthly gatherings at each other’s homes. Some shared MOCs, others brought cool new sets or rare finds. They drafted. They traded. They built. And most importantly—they created a safe, welcoming space where any LEGO interest was valid.

From set builders and collectors to fans who built MOCs with their bricks, word of the group spread quickly through conversations, LUGNET forums, and local events. All AFOLs in the area who were interested were welcome to join.

The founding members were on the path to create a group that would build lasting memories and a passion for the LEGO hobby for many. And soon, the VLC was born.

How Train Shows Became Our Bread and Butter

As the VLC began to grow, it was time for its founders to take their love of the brick to the public. The members had to decide what type of club they wanted to be and what they wanted to display. The next step was deciding what their logo would look like.

Finally, they needed to decide where they wanted to display. Would it be local events, charities, museum displays, or a combination? Robin soon got to work creating the logo. It was decided that a town and train layout and MOC build table would fit the bill for builder participation and public enjoyment. The first train show would take place in November 2000 at the Cameron Rec Center. This show, put on by roughly 10 people, would see their first of many People’s Choice awards for the club.

Robin, Bryan, Sam, Kevin, Alex, Daveed circa 2000

Throughout the next 25 years, the VLC would participate in several more train shows creating more complex and diverse layouts. As the club grew, so did their ambition.

What started out as a modest display at a model train and hobby show has grown to new heights! From building tall structures and dense forests, to capturing breathtaking local landmarks to bountiful farmlands, the public has had so much to see. These layouts set the backdrop for members to flex their artistic muscles in recreating classic vehicles and stunning trains. A few of the more notable train shows have taken place in Squamish, B.C., Vancouver, B.C., and Cloverdale, B.C. These award-winning shows have set a standard for the VLC’s public displays.

More Than Just a Train Club

One of the wonderful things about the LEGO community is the diversity in styles and builds. The VLC early on wanted to showcase all the unique talents of its members. In 2003, the VLC partnered with the Surrey Museum in Surrey, British Columbia. This first show would smash the museum’s attendance records, push the creativity of the VLC builders, and set up a partnership that is still going strong. In 2006, the display saw a creative town layout and tall, interactive towers.

In 2012, the VLC’s displays at the Surrey Museum upped the ante with mythology. Builders created fantastical displays that took guests from the banks of the river Nile to the Roman Colosseum. 2023 brought guests back to the nostalgic era of classic castle, space, and adventure themes. This would prove to be one of the museum’s highest attended shows, and one of the largest displays the VLC had ever put on with over 30 builders participating.

With all the attendance and guest reactions at the Surrey Museum, the VLC was invited to partner with the PoMo Museum in Port Moody, B.C. in 2024, where eight club members recreated the historic Rocky Point Park.

As LEGO grew to become the toy of the century, opportunities arose for The LEGO Group to open retail stores in British Columbia. The grand opening of the first LEGO brand retail store opened in Vancouver’s Oakridge Center in 2010. The opening of the store created a new type of partnership. The VLC was invited to participate in building some of the models for the iconic display boxes.

Building off the successes of the museum and train shows, the VLC had opportunities to try new, out-of-the-box ideas and partnerships. Science World after Dark brought an adults-only evening of science, creation, and games to the Vancouver community. The Vancouver Art Gallery saw VLC members participate in art events and displays. The Scandinavian Festival is a Summertime favorite bringing together Scandinavian culture, games, and heritage.

More Than the Bricks

After making their presence known at many LEGO shows and other events, the VLC wanted to support the local communities in the ways that the communities supported them. In the early 2000s, the VLC held its first fundraising event with a monorail display; attendees could put a coin into the display to activate the monorail.

In the 2010s the VLC partnered with local branches of the Starlight Foundation, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Ronald McDonald House, and Canuck Place Children’s Hospice. Pierre C. was an integral part in laying the foundations for the club’s charitable ventures throughout these formative years. These special events allowed the VLC to provide a day of fun and opportunities for play to the youngest and most vulnerable fans of the brick.

Sean, Val, Pierre Canuck Place Children's Hospice .jpg

Val donating Fairybricks to Canuck Place.jpg

Charity events have been woven into the fabric that makes up an important part of who the VLC is. In 2018, VLC member Andrew D. created a toy drive in partnership with the Surrey Christmas Bureau to provide a bit of holiday cheer to those in need. In 2021, Val D. partnered with Fairy Bricks to provide LEGO to children in local hospitals and hospice care.

VLC Celebrities

While some VLCers are home-grown community “celebrities,” the VLC has also had a few members become international celebrities. In 2005, VLC Founder Robin Sather was an integral part in the creation of the LEGO Certified Professional program with LEGO, becoming an LCP himself, and would later play a role in the creation of the LEGO Ambassador Network. In 2023, Robin would go on to host LEGO Masters New Zealand.

Paul Heatherington has international acclaim as a LEGO artist and member of the Bricks Universe roadshow. Dave and Emily Guedes went to compete in LEGO Masters Season 3 (they came in the top three in the season finally). Dave would make a return to LEGO Masters Holiday Bricktacular in 2024.

Building Connections That Last

From the very beginning of the VLC, the club was built on the goal of bringing together like-minded individuals. But the members of the VLC are so much more than the LEGO they create with. They are more than the shows. They are the community where lifelong friendships have formed. Where members travel, hike, and have BBQs together. They are the support network that saw the VLC through a global pandemic, through the highs and lows of the LEGO community, and through personal triumphs and losses.

Allan, Sean, Pierre, Deanna, Val 2023.jpg

We often say the members are the “Kragle” that’s held this club together for 25 years—and it’s true. They are an incredible group of people who bring out the best in each other and their communities. They are always reaching out to help, to mentor the new generation, and to raise the bar just a little higher. Their dedication, generosity, and spirit are what keep the VLC thriving.

The VLC truly wouldn’t be where it is without its incredible membership. Here’s to another 25 years of friendships, shows, and LEGO!

What’s your experience with the VLC or another LUG? Let us know in the comments below!

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