There are several new friendships brewing at The Gardens at Qualicum Beach.
The seniors residence has been hosting a new activity for the past month or so: Lego club with Maclaren.
The club, initiated by Maclaren himself with a letter to recreation programmer Laurel Wright, meets every Thursday. Maclaren Trudeau and his father, Paul Trudeau, bring boxes and bags of Lego along with instructions, and put the Lego kits together with residents.
“Lego is good for hand-eye co-ordination, it’s creative, but most of all, it’s fun!” Maclaren wrote in his letter, which was sent to Wright in May.
After arranging for the group’s first play date, Wright said eight residents played with Maclaren and his Lego for two hours.
The group has continued on, with Maclaren inviting a friend or two each time to take part as well. Residents work on Lego displays in pairs with Maclaren or one of his friends, or individually, with Trudeau giving a hand here and there.
Trudeau said what prompted Maclaren’s interest in starting the club was the passing of Maclaren’s great-grandfather, Jim Mrack.
They used to play with Lego together all the time, said Trudeau. Mrack passed away last January at the age of 99.
“Now we are here every Thursday,” said Trudeau, adding that they are working to figure out how to keep the club going once school starts.