National Breaking News

The Canadian Press - ONLINE EDITION

Kids, parents explore Canada's first Lego attraction in Vaughan, Ont.

By: Hailey Chan, The Canadian Press

Friday, Mar. 1, 2013 at 4:25 PM | Comments: 0

Christian Banos, 5 and his sister, Michelle Banos, 3 build a castle at Legoland Discovery Centre at the Vaughan Mills mall, north of Toronto on Friday, March 1, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Hailey Chan

VAUGHAN, Ont. - Canada's first Lego attraction is officially open.

Parents and kids explored the Legoland Discovery Centre at the Vaughan Mills mall north of Toronto on Friday, roaming through the sprawling playground-like space.

The 3,160-square-metre indoor facility is devoted to the toy building blocks — and is geared towards children ages 3-10 and their families.

Graeme Dymond, the centre's master model maker, said playing with the colourful plastic bricks could inspire budding engineers.

"They can learn about gears and axles, velocity and acceleration...There's an earthquake model over there that will teach kids how to build sturdy bases for buildings," Dymond said as he watched over the crowd.

Friday's young visitors flocked to a racetrack where they built Lego cars and slid them down a ramp.

"The lighter it is, the faster it goes," said eight-year-old Miles Forint, a Lego enthusiast who shares his collection with classmates at a weekly lunchtime play date.

His older brother Nathan is also a fan — and a member of the centre's "junior construction club," which participates in monthly special projects.

"We're a Lego family," their mother, Karen Forint, said Friday.

The boys and their father previously entered and won a Lego contest at the local library, she said.

The facility includes hands-on play areas, a 4D cinema, master classes led by master model builders, two LEGO rides and special party rooms.

Parents touring the centre seemed to favour Miniland, an interactive replica of the Greater Toronto Area.

The display includes model versions of several major landmarks, including the CN Tower and Toronto City Hall — made entirely out of LEGO bricks.

Admission is free for children under the age of 2 and costs $18 for those up to age 13. Adults pay $22 and must be accompanied by kids. Annual passes are also available for $60 per person or $230 for a family of four.

Rate this
This article has not yet been rated.

We want you to tell us what you think of our articles. If the story moves you, compels you to act or tells you something you didn’t know, mark it high. If you thought it was well written, do the same. If it doesn’t meet your standards, mark it accordingly.

You can also register and/or login to the site and join the conversation by leaving a comment.

Rate it yourself by rolling over the stars and clicking when you reach your desired rating. We want you to tell us what you think of our articles. If the story moves you, compels you to act or tells you something you didn’t know, mark it high.

Sort by: Newest to Oldest | Oldest to Newest | Most Popular 0 Comments

You can comment on most stories on brandonsun.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

There are no comments at the moment. Be the first to post a comment below.

Post Your Comment

The Brandon Sun does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. Comments are moderated before publication. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.