Big Taste of Little Manila: a Food + Talking Tour

With the largest Filipino population in Canada, Toronto’s “Little Manila” at Bathurst Street and Wilson Avenue is a vibrant community linchpin. Celebrate Filipino Heritage Month by exploring Little Manila with historians, educators, architects, and local entrepreneurs.

Learn how the community and neighbourhood came to be – one bite at a time.

Developed in collaboration with Jennilee Austria (author/educator), Diana Roldan (architect) and Ysh Cabana (community historian).

We want everyone to enjoy Little Manila’s iconic food, however, we cannot guarantee this tour can accommodate all allergies or dietary restrictions.

Dates + Times
Sunday, June 4th @ 2 pm
Sunday, June 4th @ 4 pm
Sunday, June 11th @ 2 am
Sunday, June 11th @ 4 pm

More About This Tour

WHAT TO EXPECT
Meeting point: Mabuhay Garden, 3749 Bathurst Street
End point: Kabalen Restaurant, 3778 Bathurst Street
Length of the tour: 90 minutes
Total active walking time: 45-55 minutes
Longest walking time between stops: 4-5 minutes

IN COLLABORATION WITH & LED BY
Jennilee Austria
Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio is a Toronto-based Filipina-Canadian public speaker, community worker, and tour guide in Toronto’s Little Manila. As the founder of Filipino Talks– an initiative that builds bridges between Canadian educators and Filipino families— she has surveyed over 1200 Filipino youth across the GTA, and uses this data to inspire educators to make change. Her debut novel, Reuniting with Strangers: A Novel Told in Stories, will be published by Douglas & McIntyre in September 2023. Inspired by her years of frontline settlement work, this collection includes two linked short stories set in Little Manila.

Ysh Cabana
Yshmael Cabana is a freelance graphic artist, if not working in construction management, and a writer/researcher. His topics of interest include early Filipinos in Canada, labour issues and social justice. His bylines range from The Philippine Reporter to Canadian Dimension to The Canadian Encyclopedia. Little Manila has been his stomping ground since coming to Toronto in 2010.

Diana Roldan
Diana Roldan is a first generation Filipino-Canadian, Architect, and Project Manager at ERA. She works on the conservation of historic properties and engages in city building at various scales. She is also an active volunteer in the community. Since arriving in Canada in 2011, Diana has led various initiatives, including walking tours, newcomers’ charrettes, and mentorship programs for Filipino-Canadians.