In January 1961 the Rural Municipality of West Kildonan asked the Province to designate it as a City. At the time the R.M. had a total tax assessment of C$15 million with a population of 19,000 citizens. Final approval by the Manitoba Legislature was given in April 1961 for the R.M. of West Kildonan and the Town of Transcona to formally become cities via minor amendments to their respective municipal and provincial Acts. The first council meeting operating as the City of West Kildonan took place on April 25, 1961. Prior to 1972, it was the independent "City of West Kildonan". Today, it is a popular suburb of the City of Winnipeg.