Portage la Prairie is celebrating its 117th birthday on Tuesday.

According to the Manitoba Historical Society, the region was formed around a community where boats on the Assiniboine River were removed and portaged over the prairie to Lake Manitoba to the north. 

Portage was incorporated as a city back on this day in history, February 13, 1907, 

The area has a history dating back centuries but wasn't considered a legitimate town until 1880. By the turn of the century, Portage boasted a population of nearly 4,000 citizens. As of the 2021 census, Portage la Prairie had a population of 12,944. 

Happy Birthday Portage!