Tourisme Portage Tourism

Brief Portage la Prairie History: Indigenous Territory for millennia! Discovered by French European descendants in 1738 and established as a fur trading post (Fort la Reine), which was built by La Verendrye. The present community of Portage la Prairie was settled by English Europeans in 1851 as a village (by Archdeacon Cochrane et al), and incorporated as a town in 1880, later becoming a city in 1907. Portage la Prairie is an agricultural hub on the Canadian Prairies, and is notably considered to be the "breadbasket" of Manitoba (one of the best crop-growing places in Canada, if not the world), producing a wide array of vegetables, fruit, and other crops. Portage is also known as one of "Canada's Most Sunniest Cities," receiving an average of 149 days of sunlight in the summer months alone. The mild, sunny climate in summer, combined with the very rich & fertile soil, makes the local area a prime location for crop production. Simplot and McCain's are two local operations, processing potatoes and french fries for large North American companies, including McDonald's Restaurants. Viterra is another large food processing company in the area, mainly specializing in the production of canola and oat products. Aside from agriculture, Portage la Prairie's economy is heavily based around retail, manufacturing and service industries. There are many attractions and things to do in the Portage la Prairie - Central Plains region! Come check us out and get tips on how to make the most of your time in Portage la Prairie!