About Joe Tay
Tested. Rooted in Markham.
Fresh Ideas. Ready to Serve.
The unthinkable events of the last election tested my character and deepened my understanding of public service. It taught me that leadership requires judgement, sacrifice, courage, and respect for the people you serve.
For more than 20 years, Markham has been home to three generations of my family. My work in media, communications, leadership, and community service has also trained me to listen, communicate, solve problems, and stay connected with people.
In the last election, more than 20,000 voters placed their trust in me. That trust strengthened my commitment to keep serving.
A True Markham Resident - Joe Tay
Markham is evolving rapidly.
With rapid growth come new challenges: traffic pressure, safety concerns, service delays, infrastructure needs, seniors’ support, youth opportunities, and City Hall responsiveness.
This is not a time for business as usual. Markham needs fresh ideas, common sense, and leadership prepared to do things differently.
My name is Joe Tay, and I am running for Regional Councillor because I believe residents deserve leadership that listens, responds, follows up, and turns expectations into real actions.
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They expect City services to keep up with growth.
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They expect better communication.
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They expect accountability for tax dollars.
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They expect support for seniors, opportunities for young people, and a City Hall that is easier to work with.
These expectations are reasonable.
The question is whether leadership is turning them into results.
Joe's Early Life
For more than 20 years, Markham has been home to three generations of my family. My children live here. My grandchildren live here. I also help care for my elderly mother, giving me a personal understanding of the daily concerns faced by seniors, caregivers, parents, families, and residents who simply want a city that works better for them.
Markham is not just where I live. It is where my family has grown, where I have built relationships, and where I want to continue serving.
I was born and raised in Hong Kong and came to Canada as a teenager. Like many immigrant families, my story is one of hard work, adaptation, sacrifice, and gratitude. Canada gave me opportunity, education, freedom, and a place to build a future. I graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Commerce degree, and over the years I built a career in media, communications, public speaking, project leadership, business development, and community service.
Joe's Professional areas
For more than 30 years, my work in media and communications has trained me to listen carefully, communicate clearly, understand people from different backgrounds, respond under pressure, and bring people together. At one stage of my career, I helped build a media operation from the ground up into an organization with more than 200 employees. That experience required teamwork, planning, problem-solving, accountability, and the ability to keep complex projects moving.
Beyond my professional work, I have always believed that when people face hardship, a community should not look away. Over the years, I have helped organize and support major fundraising and community efforts in response to humanitarian crises, unfortunate events, disaster victims, and families in need. These experiences strengthened my belief that leadership is not only about speaking — it is about stepping forward when people need help.
I have also spent many years advocating for newcomers and members of my community as they adapt, integrate, and rebuild their lives in Canada. I understand how difficult it can be to start over in a new country, understand new systems, find support, and feel that your voice matters. That is why I believe local government must be more responsive, more accessible, and more connected to residents from all backgrounds.
What to expect
Fairness, dignity, justice, and respect for people who are overlooked have always mattered to me. Whether supporting families under pressure, standing with communities facing hardship, helping newcomers, or speaking up for freedom and human rights, I believe public service must begin with compassion and continue with action. These are practical values that matter at City Hall.
Regional Councillors must do more than attend meetings. They must understand residents’ expectations, ask the right questions, follow up, communicate clearly, and make sure decisions at both Markham Council and York Regional Council lead to real results for residents.
As a Regional Councillor, I would have a seat at both tables.
At Markham Council, decisions affect local services such as city planning, permits, parks, recreation, libraries, local roads, winter service, and by-law issues.
At York Regional Council, decisions affect major services such as policing, transit, paramedics, public health, housing, regional roads, water, wastewater, and major infrastructure.
That is why this role matters so much.
Markham is facing rapid growth, and residents can feel the pressure.
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Daily commute chaos
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Safety concerns
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City services under pressure
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Families feeling stretched
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Seniors needing support
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Teens looking for opportunity
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Businesses facing delays.
Too often, residents feel there is a gap between what they expect and what they actually receive. I am running to help close that gap.
My campaign is built around a simple commitment: Joe Tay. Right Away! Every resident inquiry will receive a response or call back within 24 hours. Not every problem can be solved instantly, but every resident deserves to know their concern has been received, respected, and followed up.
That is how expectations begin turning into action.
My platform, SMILE Markham, will turn your expectations into real actions long awaited.
