To carry a canoe overland between waterways is to “portage” in French, and in this instance refers to the portage over “la prairie” between the Assiniboine River and Lake Manitoba, which was traveled by many settlers and journeymen during the early 1800’s. Hence, Portage la Pairie has become a city of convergence made up of roadways and railways amidst these particular waterways.
Railway aficionados have much to take in among Portage la Pairie’s hundreds of trains to view, historic artifacts of the city’s younger years, and rides to almost anywhere!
Cradled along the rivers’ shores are many plains, which appropriately bring annual festivals such as the Potato Festival each summer. Portage la Prairie also happens to be the world strawberry capital.
Central to the Province of Manitoba, (located approximately 60 miles from Brandon to the west and Winnipeg approximately 30 miles to the east) Portage la Pairie is home to the ‘Fort la Reine Museum and Pioneer Village’, the Delta Marsh and the Portage Sandhills pristine landscape that provides ample natural playground for sporting cross-country skis, guided hunting, or wildlife viewing. Families may want time to get in some real playtime at the stupendous adventure park Splash Island, where, you guessed it, water is the roaring center of fun!
The museum is dedicated to preserving the heritage of the Canadian Prairies generally and more specifically the history of the...
The Portage & District Arts Centre, housed within the William Glesby Centre, is comprised of a Gallery, Gift Shop, Dance Studio...
The William Glesby Centre is a 450 seat performing arts facility centrally located in Portage la Prairie’s Heritage Square.