The space on Saskatchewan Avenue between the Bank of Montreal and Canada Post will now be known as Veterans Memorial Park.

Portage la Prairie's City Council approved the name change at their meeting on July 10. Councillor Ryan Espey says the Portage Legion Branch #65 has been wanting this name change for a while.

"This is actually several months in the works," notes Espey. "It was brought to us and we had to make sure that we did our due diligence on approving this because we don't want anyone to feel offended that there might be something that we're missing when it comes to renaming something of such historical significance to the city."

The cenotaph was first built in 1926 to honour those who gave their lives in the First World War. In 1961, it was moved to the east to create space for the Canada Post building. Espey says the Legion is a cornerstone of the community.

"They represent veterans and I think it's extremely important to make sure that relationship stays positive. I can't imagine that it will ever not be," mentions Espey.

He mentions that the commemoration of the new name will be done in conjunction with the Legion with an announcement coming in the near-future.

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