Portage la Prairie and area is a progressive community with an area population of approximately 20,000 inhabitants. Located in south central Manitoba on the picturesque Assiniboine River, Portage la Prairie is, and has always been an important transportation centre, dating back to its inception as a fur trading post. Today it is connected to the rest of Canada via the Trans-Canada Highway and Yellowhead Highway, with service from both major railroads, a trans-continental bus service, and via air through Southport Aerospace.