Roland is a village of about 300 people in the Pembina Valley Region of

Manitoba , image_map = Manitoba in Canada 2.svg , map_alt = Map showing Manitoba's location in the centre of Southern Canada , Label_map = yes , coordinates = , capital = Win ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tota ...

, located in the Rural Municipality of Roland, about 16 km north of Winkler. It is named for Roland McDonald, a farmer and lumber merchant, who settled there in 1880 when the post office was opened. Juno nominated international children's musicians,

LuLu and the TomCat LuLu and the TomCat (''LuLu et le Matou'') is a Juno nominated children's musical group formed in Roland, Manitoba, Canada in 2001. The group has produced children's albums and made concert appearances. History LuLu and TomCat were members of sev ...

, make their home in Roland. Roland is the birthplace of the

Canadian 4-H Council Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...

and the

Canadian 4-H Club Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source o ...

. Roland is home to the world's largest pumpkin, a fibreglass structure built as a tribute to Edgar VanWyck, a local resident who made the

Guinness Book of World Records ''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a reference book published annually, listing world ...

in 1977 for growing the largest pumpkin.

Culture

One of Roland's main cultural events is the annual Roland Pumpkin Fair, which includes a "pumpkin weigh-off". The fair also includes live entertainment, beer gardens and a harvest supper. Roland - as the birthplace of 4-H in Canada - is home to the 4-H Museum where the history of the club in Canada, particularly Roland, is showcased. Roland is also home to the Roland Elementary School. The area is home to the Roland Golf Course, which is located a few miles out of the village.

Notable residents

- a children's musical group formed in Roland, Manitoba, Canada in 2001 by Lori LuLu and Thomas Neufeld. The group has produced children's albums and made concert appearances. * Edgar Van Wyck - made the Guinness Book of World Records in 1977 for growing the largest

pumpkin A pumpkin is a vernacular term for mature winter squash of species and varieties in the genus '' Cucurbita'' that has culinary and cultural significance but no agreed upon botanical or scientific meaning. The term ''pumpkin'' is sometimes u ...

. * Garfield McMahon, Olympic sports shooter. LuLu and the TomCat perform at the Roland Pumpkin Fair

References

External links

Manitoba Regional Profiles: Pembina Valley RegionRoland 4-H Museum WebsiteRoland Golf Course Website
{{MBDivision3 Unincorporated communities in Pembina Valley Region