Anola
| Anola | |
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| Motto: "Share in our Future... Invest in your Community..." | |
 Anola
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| Coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Manitoba |
| Region | Eastman |
| Rural Municipality | Springfield |
| Established | 1907 |
| Government | |
| • MP Provencher | Vic Toews |
| Elevation | 255 m (838 ft) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | Central (CDT) (UTC-5) |
| Postal code | R0E 0A0 |
| Area code(s) | 204 |
| Website | [1] |
Anola, Manitoba, Canada, is an unincorporated community located 24 km east of Winnipeg and 40 km north of Steinbach in the Rural Municipality of Springfield. Approximately 200 people live within its limits, but many people in surrounding areas consider themselves to be part of Anola.[1]
Contents
History
In 1907, when the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway expressed an interest in the district, the land was sold, and the village of "Free Port" was born. The name changed in 1912. According to the book Place Names of Manitoba, published for the Geographic Board of Canada in 1933 by the Department of the Interior, the name Anola is an "invented name, formerly known as Richland Post Office". A 1905 letter from M. Holloway, who ran the Richland post office which served the area, may have prompted this conclusion. In his correspondence to the Geographic Board of Canada, it was indicated that residents were unaware of why it was so named except "as a more convenient means of referring to it than Township 10-7E". Considering the date of his letter, it seems that people in the area were calling it "Anola" even before it was officially changed; at least as far as mail delivery was concerned.
Ted Stone states in his book The Story behind Manitoba Names: "Locals sometimes ascribe the name to the rise in elevation there. The area is on a slight but perceptible, ridge. According to this theory it's on "a knoll," which gave rise to the name Anola. Others have suggested that Anola is named after the wife of a railway official. This theory has some credence since Anola comes at the end of a series of rail points (Elma, Hazel, Vivian) using women's first names. It's likely that the same official named at least two of these towns after one or more daughters. Since all four towns received their names at about the same time, Elma, Hazel, Vivian and Anola may have been sisters. Or perhaps the local legend is correct and Anola was the mother of the other three.".[2]
Another possibility is that early homesteaders in the area were of Finnish descent and so the name chosen would reflect that, as there are at least seven towns in southern Finland whose names end with ola: Askola, Hollola, Karkola, Nastola, Kouvola, Hartola and Heinola.
Economy
Anola has many well established businesses, Anola Motor Hotel, Settler's Esso, Laketrail Petro and Anola Building Centre. While the town boasts an expanded Petro Canada, many commuters often stop at Settler's Inn, which used to be a Shell Station/Seasonal Burger Joint but now sells Esso gasoline. Lucky Dollar Foods sell Chester Fried Chicken. Anola Motor Hotel is located at the main junction of Hwys #12 and #15 with a bar, VLTs cold beer store and restaurant. Most Anolians, as they are sometimes called, do not live and work in the town. Since it is so close to Winnipeg and Steinbach, many commute for work. This undoubtedly contributes to the overwhelming gasoline sales to Anola's loyal customers. Anola's traffic increases on Friday and Sunday night due to commuters that head to and from cottage country in Whiteshell Provincial Park as well as many locations in the Ontario region.
Social life
The local pub, Anola Bar offers various entertainment choices including live bands, karaoke and DJ nights. There is a choice of VLT terminals to try your luck. Anola Bar hosts meat draws every Saturday and Chase the Ace and Wing Nights every Wednesday. It is considered the place to be in Anola. Anola has an Over 50 Club, The establishment hosts many Bingo Nights and is also the site of large family gatherings. Anola celebrates it anniversary in early June with games, petting farm and games for the young, finishing off with live music, beer gardens and fireworks. With August comes Anola Community Club's anniversary. The weekend starts with a baseball tournament, fun and games for all ages and finishes on Friday and Saturday nights with a live band and beer garden. Anola cafe also offers fine dining and take out menu.
Education
Anola has a K-8 school that is highly regarded for producing some of the top achievers in the municipality, even with its smaller size. However, it is this small size that allows it to cater to each student's needs and helps to create the best community members that it possibly can. Anola school offers a wide array of programming including French, band, music, choir, grade 6-8 life options, resource, counselling, inter/intra-school athletics, and school-wide talent development program.
Famous names
- Corey Koskie, a Major League Baseball player.
- Al Simmons (musician), children's performer/musician
Media recognition
Winnipeg local band, Quagmire, has a song named "Anola, MB" on their 2005 album One For The Ditch.
