Five Key Achievements
Five Key Achievements
1. Key Achievement - Smart Development Of Markham
Markham Central Square creates jobs and opportunities
Helped Zeekers Danz Studio to overcome zoning hurdles
Taste of Asia nurtures cultures and creates jobs
Driving business growth, creating jobs and simplifying regulations to create a Smart Hub of Markham
A strong community depends on a strong local economy. Isa is committed to attracting responsible investment, supporting local businesses, and creating good jobs that benefit residents and families throughout Ward 8.
Isa has a proven track record of helping bring new investment and economic opportunities to our community. From supporting the development of Markham Central Square—a major mixed-use project along the Highway 7 corridor—to helping attract new businesses and services, she has consistently advocated for growth that goes beyond residential development alone. Her efforts have helped ensure that growth delivers real benefits for residents: more jobs, more services, and more opportunities.
Her work has also helped advance key investments in Ward 8, including the arrival of a new T&T Supermarket in South Park. This development will create local jobs while providing greater convenience and choice for nearby families.
Isa understands that small businesses are the backbone of our local economy. She has worked directly with entrepreneurs and business owners to navigate permits, licensing requirements, and municipal regulations, helping them overcome barriers and successfully open and operate their businesses. Whether supporting businesses through zoning challenges, facilitating expansion, or connecting owners with the right City departments, Isa is committed to helping local enterprises succeed.
One example is Zeekers Danz, a professional dance training school and production company that relocated from Hong Kong to Toronto. Now established in the community, it offers a range of dance programs for youth, helping them develop skills, build confidence, and reach their full potential.
As a trusted community advocate, Isa brings people together—serving as a bridge between residents, businesses, developers, landowners, and the City—to find practical solutions and move projects forward. Her approach is simple: remove unnecessary barriers, support job creation, and ensure economic growth strengthens our community for everyone.
By fostering investment, supporting entrepreneurs, and creating opportunities close to home, Isa is helping build a stronger, more prosperous Ward 8—today and for future generations.
2. Key Achievement - Affordability & Responsible Government Spending
105 Gibson Food Bank
Markham Municipal Budget
St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral delivers affordable rental homes
Responsible budgeting, supports food security and affordable housing with community partners including the Coptic Orthodox Church, Gibson, and the South Markham Community Action Table.
Keeping Markham affordable starts with responsible leadership. Isa understands that families are facing rising costs and that every tax dollar matters. That is why she is committed to protecting residents from unnecessary financial burdens while ensuring essential services and community needs continue to be met. Isa has consistently advocated for responsible fiscal management and maintaining one of the lowest municipal property tax rates in the region, helping residents keep more money in their pockets.
Beyond balancing the budget, Isa believes no one in our community should have to worry about where their next meal will come from. She has been a strong supporter of local food security initiatives, organizing and contributing to regular food bank drives and working closely with community partners such as the Fire Department, Cross-Cultural Community Services Association, and Gibson Centre Food Bank. Through these efforts, Isa has helped mobilize support, raise awareness, and ensure food supplies reach families when they need them most.
Isa is also committed to addressing Markham’s affordability challenges through practical housing solutions. She has supported affordable and supportive housing initiatives, including partnerships with organizations such as the Coptic Church to develop non-profit housing options for individuals and families facing housing insecurity. Isa believes everyone deserves a safe, affordable place to live and the opportunity to build a better future with dignity and respect.
As an active member of the South Markham Community Action Table, Isa brings residents, community organizations, and government partners together to tackle some of the community’s most pressing challenges. Her work focuses on improving housing stability, mental health supports, community safety, and overall well-being. By fostering collaboration and directing resources where they are needed most, Isa is helping build a stronger, more caring, and more resilient Markham for everyone.
3. Key Achievement - Engaging and Protecting Community
Keep Markham Beautiful Competition for cleaner neighbourhoods, greater civic pride, and stronger community engagement
Operation Team and Gets ready for Winter 2025
York Regional Police sharing on reporting suspicious crime
Our Volunteer was helping a senior resident to clear the snow in front of her house.
Helping residents to resolve problems and to create an enjoyable environment for us to live in
Isa believes effective leadership means being accessible, responsive, and focused on delivering results. She is committed to helping families, seniors, newcomers, and community organizations navigate government services, access funding opportunities, and connect with the resources they need to thrive.
Through initiatives such as the Keep Markham Beautiful” Competition, Isa has championed cleaner neighbourhoods, greater civic pride, and stronger community engagement. The program encourages residents to take pride in their homes and streets while promoting practical, visible improvements that enhance everyday quality of life.
Her vision includes cleaner streets, better-maintained public spaces, stronger litter control, and beautification projects such as planting trees, flowers, and expanding green corridors. These efforts help create a safer, greener, and more welcoming community for everyone.
Public safety is also a top priority. Isa has successfully advocated for new stop signs and traffic-calming measures at high-risk intersections, improving safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. Working closely with York Regional Police and community partners, she has supported neighbourhood watch initiatives, promoted home security camera registration programs, shared crime prevention resources, and advanced Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles to help keep communities safe.
Isa understands that strong communities are built when residents are heard, local concerns are addressed, and neighbours work together. She remains committed to being a hands-on advocate who listens, takes action, and delivers meaningful results for Markham families.
4. Key Achievement - Supporting Health, Wellness, and Inclusion
Cherish’s Possible Cafe where individuals with disabilities can reach their full potential
Dog Guide Day Charity Walk
Gibson Walkathon for Autism
Mc Happy Day
Life is Beautiful: Armadale Older Adults Club
Building a more caring and connected community through health, seniors, and inclusion initiatives
Isa believes a strong community is one where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Throughout her time in public service, she has championed health, wellness, and inclusion by supporting organizations such as Markham Stouffville Hospital, Cherish Integrated Services, the Gibson Walkathon for Autism, and Hagerman House through advocacy, fundraising, and community engagement.
Beyond raising awareness, Isa is committed to creating meaningful opportunities for individuals of all abilities to reach their full potential, build confidence, and live more independently. She believes that every resident deserves the support, respect, and opportunities needed to succeed.
Isa is also a strong advocate for seniors, maintaining close connections with older adults through regular visits and participation in community organizations such as the Mon Sheong Foundation, Armadale Older Adult Club, and many local seniors’ groups. She understands the importance of helping seniors remain active, connected, and engaged in community life.
By bringing people together and supporting residents at every stage of life, Isa continues to build a more caring, inclusive, and compassionate Markham—one where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute to the community.
5. Key Achievement - Better Environment & Balanced City Planning
Resident’s voice to install stop signs
Restore Markham’s natural beauty with civic participation
Milliken Transit-Oriented Community Plan update to hear resident’s voice
Taking residents’ concerns into actions, improving traffic, more support facilities for the community and enhancing a well-planned neighbourhood
Isa believes growth must be planned responsibly—balancing development, residents’ needs, traffic concerns, and environmental sustainability. As Markham continues to grow, she has worked to ensure that new developments enhance our quality of life while protecting the character of our neighbourhoods.
Isa has actively participated in major planning consultations, including the Ada Mackenzie Park Phase 3 Open House and the Milliken Transit-Oriented Community project. She uses these opportunities to listen to residents, gather feedback, and advocate for solutions that address concerns related to traffic, transportation, infrastructure, and environmental impacts. Her goal is to ensure that residents’ voices are heard and reflected in the planning process.
Recognizing that growth can bring increased traffic and safety challenges, Isa has championed practical improvements to make neighbourhoods safer and more walkable. She has advocated for traffic calming measures, improved pedestrian infrastructure, enhanced crosswalks, and the installation of stop signs in high-risk areas to help reduce speeding and improve road safety for families, seniors, and children.
Environmental stewardship is equally important to Isa’s vision for Markham. Working alongside community partners such as 10,000 Trees, she has supported initiatives to restore natural habitats and expand the city’s urban canopy, helping plant thousands of trees across Markham, including major planting efforts at Milne Park. Through these initiatives, she promotes environmental awareness while helping preserve Markham’s natural beauty for future generations.
Isa also believes that strong communities are built through active civic participation. She has encouraged residents, schools, and local organizations to take part in neighbourhood cleanups, beautification projects, and community improvement initiatives that foster pride, responsibility, and a shared commitment to keeping Markham clean, green, and welcoming.
By bringing residents together, advocating for safer streets, and promoting responsible growth and environmental sustainability, Isa is helping build a Markham that is livable, connected, and ready for the future.