Building fun one block at a time

By Lethbridge Herald on July 2, 2025.

Joe Manio
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

As one of the most recognized and beloved toy brands in the world, LEGO has come a long way since the 93-year-old company introduced the now iconic interlocking plastic brick system in 1958. 

Some 67 years later, LEGO has survived, adapted, innovated and evolved, adding specialized kits, expanding into games and entertainment, and as of 2025 there are 10 LEGOLAND theme parks located around the world.

LEGO has thousands of clubs worldwide, ranging from informal local groups to officially recognized communities. Every year an estimated 50-100 LEGO fan-hosted conventions, official events, and traveling exhibitions happen around the world. 

And last month, Lethbridge LEGO Club Lethbridge hosted Lethbridge’s first ever LEGO Show entitled “Brick-by-Brick” at Immanuel Lutheran Church.

“The show itself came out of a desire to celebrate what the kids and families in our club had built over the years, and to give space for local builders, young and old, to share their creations,” says lifelong LEGO fan, builder and organizer Kris Heidebrecht. “We started planning in early spring and, like a good LEGO build, it came together piece by piece with the help of volunteers, families, and fellow fans. The June 13-14th event was the first of its kind in Lethbridge, and it felt like something truly special: joyful, imaginative, and community-driven.”

At Brick-By-Brick, there were numerous individual models, large-scale builds and even custom creations. There were themed builds, like Star Wars, Harry Potter and Marvel, as well as original creations, including  miniature recreations of famous landmarks, a functional railroad and a miniature model of Lethbridge’s Wilson Middle School.

“One of the things about LEGO is that pieces that I got, let’s say back in the 1960s, still fit with pieces that you buy today,” says Calgary builder Albert Dethmers who brought his railroad build down for the show. “I’ve been collecting LEGOs for about 55 years.”

LEGO’s legacy is its longevity, continuously evolving from its wooden toy origins in the 1930s while staying true to its core value of creative, hands-on play. Its ability to adapt through themed sets, digital integration, and global community engagement has kept it relevant across generations.

“It’s ageless and is something almost anyone can do,” says Dethmers. “There’s almost nothing that can’t be built out of LEGO, and particularly in today’s market there are so many different themes that LEGO does, for instance they do modular themes which are based off of modern buildings, they have Star Wars, Dreams, Bionicle…”  

LEGO also offers value to individuals in terms of creativity and imagination. It encourages open-ended play and problem-solving. For cognitive development it enhances spatial awareness, fine motor skills and engineering concepts. It also promotes emotional well-being by offering a calming, focused activity for all ages, including adults.

For families, LEGO can be a bonding tool, teaching collaboration between parents and children or siblings.Shared Learning fosters joint creativity, teamwork, and communication. LEGO activity is also screen-free activity, offering meaningful, hands-on time away from digital devices.

“I’ve seen parents and kids sitting side by side, building, laughing, and learning from each other, and that’s a beautiful thing,” says Heidebrecht. “It’s not about building the perfect model, it’s about building memories. Whether it’s a quick ten-minute build after dinner or a Saturday afternoon project that takes over the whole table, LEGO gives families a reason to slow down and be together — and that’s a gift in today’s busy world.” 

And then there’s LEGO’s community value, beginning with the thousands of clubs and events, LEGO user groups (LUGs), conventions and exhibitions. LEGO is Inclusive play, which bridges age, culture, and language differences. Education is used in schools, libraries, and maker spaces to teach design and engineering skills.

“I definitely see it as a creative outlet,” says Wilson Middle School education assistant Emily Lebaron, who built the miniature Wilson Middle School “Like any art medium, like paint or clay, LEGO can be used to make sculptures and tell stories. And something that I noticed as I’ve worked with special needs kids and some of the behavioural kids (is) every single kid loves LEGO. There’s not one single kid I’ve met that doesn’t love LEGO.” 

Heidebrecht says their LEGO Clubs are open to anyone in the Lethbridge area. They meet throughout the school year at Immanuel Lutheran Church,meeting weekly after school. Anyone interested can reach out to the church office or follow the Lethbridge Lego Club on Facebook.