Established in about 1874.

This cemetery is situated in the City of Portage la Prairie. Across from the cemetery (and indistinguishable from it on this service) is the Hillside Memorial Park which is focused on a plaque erected in memory of service personnel by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #65 and the Army-Navy and Airforce Unit #13.

(Source: Manitoba Historical Society [Adapted])

Dominion Land Survey coordinates (for a point in the heart of the property): LSD03-03-12-07-W1

In the limits of the City of Portage la Prairie, which is also the administrative centre for the surrounding Rural Municipality of the same name

As can be seen on the online map, the cemetery is divided into several sections, some of which are designated as being for veterans and members of their families.

The name of this place derives from the early days of the fur trade in North America, likely given by the French explorers Radisson and Groseillers. It was a hub of trade to all points of the compass and the site of the military post known as "Fort de la Reine", first established by La Verendrye and his party.

As the location of a historic part of the settlement and development of this part of Manitoba and further afield into western Canada, the people of the place had lives that included many stories. These are told in various local history books, among them:

- First Furrows - A History of the Settlement of the Red River Colony, Including That of Portage la Prairie

- Our story of historic Portage La Prairie

- Portage la Prairie 1870-1970 - A History of Portage la Prairie and Surrounding District

- The Tread of the Pioneers

Free digital versions of these and many other Manitoba local history books can be found online in the University of Manitoba Digital Collections. There is also a list of such books organized by district and town name on the Manitoba Historical Society's website on their page entitled "Finding Aid: Manitoba Local History Books".

A list of burials in this cemetery is available from the Manitoba Genealogical Society (reference #1245), transcribed in conjunction with "The Prior Relations Genealogy Group" in 1994 - 1999 and redone in 2000. Also available to MGS members is a searchable online database named the "MGS Manitoba Name Index" (or MANI).

The City of Portage la Prairie Parks and Cemeteries Division is responsible for maintaining City-owned cemeteries (i.e., Hillside Cemetery, Hillside Memorial and St Mary's Cemetery). For more information regarding City-owned cemeteries, please contact the Operations Department.

Of note: Evergreen Memorial Gardens Cemetery is adjacent to this property and found on the north side of the 90-degree bend in Cottonwood Drive shared by the two cemeteries