History of Portage la Prairie

The first Europeans, credited with the "discovery" of the Portage area, were Radisson and Groseilliers. They explored the region in search of furs between 1658 and 1690. Pierre Gaultier de Varnes Sieur de la Verendrye established Fort la Reine on the site of what is now known as Portage la Prairie in 1738. The name Portage la Prairie reflects this early voyageur heritage because it derives its meaning from the "Prairie Portage" that the early explorers had to endure when transporting goods from the Red and Assiniboine Rivers across to Lake Manitoba.

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For More Information on the History of Portage la Prairie, please contact the Portage Heritage Advisory Committee at City Hall at 204-239-8321

www.city.portage-la-prairie.mb.ca

History of the Rural Municipality of Portage la Prairie

The Rural Municipality of Portage la Prairie was incorporated in 1879. It is the largest municipality in Manitoba with an area of approximately 864 square miles. Our population is 7,156. We are centrally located in the Province of Manitoba. The west boundary is about 60 miles from Brandon and Winnipeg is located about 30 miles from our east boundary.

For more information on the Rural Municipality of Portage la Prairie please visit:

www.rm.portage-la-prairie.mb.ca/

History of CFPD

The Community Foundation of Portage and District Inc owes its existence to the Thomas Sill Foundation’s commitment to rural philanthropy and to the dedication of a few Portagers who foresaw the value of a community foundation for all the citizens of Portage and District.

Thomas SillIn 1993 the Thomas Sill Foundation (TSF) announced the assignment of $1 million to help create ten new community foundations in rural and northern Manitoba. TSF made a pledge of $100,000 payable over four years, if a further $200,000 was raised in the community. Portage was selected to be one of the first to take up the challenge.

An informational meeting was held on April 19, 1994. A steering committee was formed with representatives from business, arts, service organizations, education and other groups in the community. Over the next eight weeks, a great deal of hard work brought the foundation into existence. The organization was incorporated on June 2, 1994; the Nominating Committee was struck, met and selected the first Board of Directors; and application was made for charitable registration status.

The Founders Club was established and by December 31, 1995, there were 162 founding members who generated $215,000. The challenge was met in fourteen months and the TSF awarded CFPD $100,000 to add to CFPD’s permanent Endowment Fund.

Portage Mutual Donation
Portage Mutual Donation:
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CFPD’s Endowment Fund steadily grew over the years thanks to our many generous donors. Through two community match challenges sponsored by an anonymous donor, CFPD raised $225,000 for the endowment fund and a matching amount was granted to charitable organizations.

In year 10, after a generous bequest of $240,000 from Violet Graham Breakey, CFPD realized its first million. Four years later, in 2008, the Portage la Mutual Insurance Company added another $10,000 to its named fund and the brought the permanent Endowment Fund over the $2 million mark.