I created a map containing the restaurants of focus and other establishments surrounding them. I also look at the Filipino population in these areas and compare it to the earliest date possible (i.e. the earliest year that census data is available through CHASS), which is 1986. I compare two things: the total population of the census tract in which the restaurant is located versus the Filipino population of that tract, as well as the change in population from 1986 to 2011, the latter being the most recent census. Using GeoSearch, I found the census tracts using the postal codes of the restaurants, then drew the shape of the area onto my Google Map.

The point of researching the populations is to see if there could be a correlation between the location of these restaurants and the number of Filipinos in the area. By comparing the number of Filipinos to the total population in that census tract, it may tell us if that area has a large Filipino community, and may also tell us something about how the type of restaurant (e.g. modern or authentic) is chosen based on its location. I have also decided to map out any other Filipino establishments nearby (other restaurants, community centres, churches, etc.) to help determine this as well.

It must be noted that when I discuss the Filipino population, I am referring to a population whose mother tongue is Tagalog and/or any other dialect of the Philippines (i.e. Ilocano). The reason I chose to focus on mother tongue is for the sake of consistency, as the 1986 census tract data contained only that data to identify people of Filipino descent. Thus, the numbers represented do not represent all of the Filipino population in Toronto, since there are those who identify as Filipino but do not speak Tagalog (e.g. first generation Filipino Canadians born in Canada whose mother tongue is most likely English). However, it is interesting to compare the population growth of the Tagalog-speaking population in the three areas of focus in 1986 and 2011. Since not all Filipinos are represented, it is safe to assume that the number of ethnic Filipinos (Tagalog, Ilocano, and English-speaking) is actually greater than the numbers shown.

I am aware that the area of the census tracts vary, and the location of the restaurants within those census tracts (except for Remely's) is just at the border, so that the rest of the area around the restaurant outside of its specific census tract is not covered. However, looking at just one census tract is simpler and still gives us a sense of the Filipino population in that area.

I have also added a fourth restaurant, Max's in Scarborough. That location was not open at the time of my research, which is why I focused on the location in Vaughan. However, I think it is still important that there is now a second one in Scarborough, which most likely has to do with the presence of a large Filipino community.