While the weigh off is happening, you may see Chris Okell lurking in the background, scoping out pumpkins and chatting with the growers. This is because Chris started a charity in memory of his mother that passed away from Cancer. Each year Chris carves these giant pumpkins, drives them around, puts them on display in various locations in Winnipeg to raise money for Cancer Care. Chris couldn’t do this without our growers and the Roland Pumpkin Fair! Halloween was his mom’s favourite holiday, so this fundraiser is something he looks forward to each year.
The Great Pumpkin Commonwealth’s (GPC) mission cultivates the hobby of growing giant pumpkins and other giant fruits throughout the world by establishing standards and regulations that ensure quality of fruit, fairness of competition, recognition of achievement, fellowship and education for all participating growers and weigh-off sites.