About Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio
Short Bio for Introductions:
Pronunciation Tip: Jenna-lee Austria Bon-ih-FAH-sho
Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio is a writer, public speaker, and founder of Filipino Talks-- a program that builds bridges between Canadian educators and Filipino newcomer families. After working with over 1200 Filipino youth in Canadian high schools, she was inspired to write her debut novel, Reuniting with Strangers, to shine a light on the immense impact of forced Filipino family separation due to Canada’s caregiver programs. Reuniting with Strangers was longlisted for Canada Reads, a finalist for the Toronto Book Awards and the Jim Wong-Chu Emerging Writers Award, and more. Jennilee is a tour guide in Toronto’s Little Manila, a founding member of Salaysay (Sah-lye-SIGH), a collective of Filipino authors based in the Greater Toronto Area.
Extended Bio:
After working in multiple Ontario school boards as a settlement worker, public speaker, and researcher, Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio founded Filipino Talks-- a program that builds bridges between educators and Filipino families.
Her work with over 1200 Filipino-Canadian youth inspired her debut novel, Reuniting with Strangers (Douglas & McIntyre). It was a finalist for the Toronto Book Awards and the Jim Wong-Chu Emerging Authors Award, named one of CBC’s Best Books of 2023, won the silver medal for Multicultural Fiction at the Independent Publisher Book Awards, and was longlisted for Canada Reads 2024.
Jennilee has an International Studies BA from Trent University, an Immigration and Settlement Studies MA from Toronto Metropolitan University, and has attended writing programs at the Humber School for Writers, the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, and the DISQUIET International Literary Program in Lisbon, Portugal.
Jennilee’s writing has been published in Geist, TAYO Literary Magazine, Changing the Face of Canadian Literature (Guernica Editions), Magdaragat: An Anthology of Filipino-Canadian Writing (Cormorant Press), Write the Neighbourhood (Book*hug Press), Mothering (Philippine Art and Culture Exchange), and more.
Jennilee received the Excellence Award in Arts and Culture at the 2025 Golden Balangay (pronounced Bah-lahng-EYE) Awards— an honour recognizing outstanding Filipino leaders across Canada.
As a Toronto-based community worker, youth mentor, Little Manila tour guide, and founding member of Salaysay (pronounced Sah-lye-SIGH), a collective of Filipino-Canadian authors based in the Greater Toronto Area, Jennilee spends a lot of time thinking about the Filipino community-- and celebrating them, too.
She is represented by Hilary McMahon and Bridgette Kam at Westwood Creative Artists.
On the Global Migration Institute stage at the TIFF Lightbox.
Finalist at the Toronto Book Awards.
Photo by The Double Jay Collective.
Hosting a Little Manila walking tour for Filipino Heritage Month. With Kabalen staff and fellow tour guides, Diana Roldan and Ysh Cabana.
Promoting Filipino entrepreneurs on a tour of Little Manila for Kababayan Multicultural Centre and the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Toronto. Photo by KMC.
Facilitating an art and settlement workshop with newcomer students at the Toronto Catholic District School Board.
Hosting a Filipino Talks Community Partners Talk Show at the Toronto District School Board to introduce newcomer students to volunteer opportunities and free community programming.
At the 2026 DISQUIET International Literary Program in Lisbon, Portugal.
With Salaysay members and supporters at a Filipinx-Canadian literary event at Another Story Bookshop.
Covering KAMP, a Filipino-Canadian newcomer youth camp in British Columbia for The Philippine Reporter.