Honorary Advisors

Godwin Chan (Honourable Advisor) 

Deputy Mayor and Regional Councillor of the City of Richmond Hill

First elected in 2006, Councillor Godwin Chan, a lawyer by profession, has provided community leadership in a wide range of areas, including policing, education, public health and road safety for over two decades. He has served on the York Regional Police Services Board, the University of Toronto’s Academic Board and the Public Library Boards in Richmond Hill and Vaughan. As a volunteer, he helped found Richmond Hill Road Watch and served as the Founding Treasurer and Fundraising Chair. Councillor Chan is committed to fostering a sense of community belonging and promoting community safety. Since elected by municipal peers to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Board of Directors in 2013, Councillor Chan has served on FCM Standing Committees on Community Safety and Crime Prevention, International Relations, Municipal Finance and Intergovernmental Arrangements, and Municipal Infrastructure and Transportation.
Councillor Chan is currently serving his fourth term on Council. For the term of 2018-2022, he serves as the Deputy Budget Chief, the Chair of Economic Development Committee, the Chair of the David Dunlap Observatory Park Steering Committee, and a member of the City’s Audit Committee and Capital Sustainability Steering Committee. He is a past recipient of the City’s Volunteer Achievement Award. In 2013, Councillor Chan was awarded the St. John Ambulance Priory Vote of Thanks from the Governor General of Canada for his volunteer work in helping to found the Youth Cadets Unit in Richmond Hill. In June 2016, Councillor Chan’s achievements were recognized and he received the RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award for making a positive difference in Canada. In 2017, Councillor Chan was chosen as one of the Canada 150 Community Leaders.

Alan Ho (Honourable Advisor)

Regional Councillor of the City of Markham

Alan has lived and worked in Markham—Unionville for more than twenty years with his wife Alice and his two sons. He is a proud alumnus of York University and has his Business degree. Elected in 2010, Alan is now in his third term as a Markham councillor. He has chaired numerous Markham Council committees and is presently chairing the Markham Culture and Economic Development Committee. He helps to bridge business relationships between Markham and global investors and is a tireless promoter of the City of Markham. He is also known as being very responsive to his constituents’ individual issues.
For over twenty years, he has owned and operated a company he started with Alice, specializing in garment manufacturing and wholesaling. When Alan became a city councillor more than eight years ago, Alice stepped in and took the reins. She has been at the helm ever since, allowing Alan to devote himself fully to his council work. Alan has a passion for community service which started years before he became a city councillor. He has helped raise funds for many non-profit organizations, including the Centre For Immigrants And Community Services, Cherish Integrated Services Inc. (an agency serving the developmentally handicapped population), Markham Stouffville Hospital and Fengcai Seniors Club. This has given him tremendous insight into and understanding of the diverse needs in our communities. He has also volunteered in Liberal election campaigns for more than two decades while promoting political awareness. He was the Riding President for the Provincial House Speaker and MPP, Dr. Alvin Curling from 1999 to 2001. Before being elected to the Markham Council in 2010, Alan has served in a range of volunteer capacities in various government, community, and charity organizations and committees.

To name a few, Alan has been:
– President of the Markham-Unionville Rotary Club (2009),
– President of the Center for Information and Community Services of Ontario (CICS) (2008),
– Director of the Scouts Canada Foundation (2010-2016)
Due to his commitment to serving the people, both his communities and governments have
acknowledged Alan and shown their appreciation by presenting Alan with numerous
awards and accolades:
– Recipient of the International Year of Volunteers in 2001 by the Federal Government
– World Baden-Powell Fellow in 2010 by Scouts Canada
– Named a Top 25 Canadian Immigrant in 2011

Isa Lee (Honourable Advisor)

Ward 8 Councillor of the City of Markham

Isa Lee is a City of Markham Councillor, a mother, community builder, an experienced news anchor, and also a passionate cultural ambassador. She was formerly the Executive Director of the Toronto Cross-Cultural Community Services Association, and has more than a decade of work experience in journalism and media.

She is a strong believer in community building and engagement, as evidenced by her wide exposure in the business and public arenas and long-time participation in community organizations. Isa is the Vice President of Canada Hong Kong Alliance and a member of the Executive Committee of Chi Heng Foundation, she was also the former President of the Ontario York Region Heritage Lions Club.

On the City level, she was appointed Vice-Chair of Community Services Committee, she is also a part of the Milliken Mills and Thornhill Sub-Committees, the Advisory Committee on Accessibility, Mayor’s Youth Council, Race Relations Committee, Cycling & Pedestrian Advisory Committee and the Markham-Milliken Children’s Festival Committee.

She was elected as Councillor for Markham in October 2018, and is working to bring residents with different backgrounds together to build a better community.

Michael Shiu (Honourable Advisor)

Ward 6 Councillor of the City of Richmond Hill

Michael Shiu is a graduate of Marketing and Communications and has been engaged in media work for over 25 years.

After immigration, Michael worked as a TV and radio journalist for over 15 years in Fairchild Media Group located in the City of Richmond Hill, which is also a beloved City Michael has lived in since 2008. He has made connections in the community through countless interviews with politicians and community leaders. As an experienced journalist, Michael is a well-trained communicator that would be an effective and efficient medium between the City Council and constituents.

In addition, Michael Shiu worked as a Member of the Provincial Parliament’s constituency office for Richmond Hill and as Public Relations and Outreach Manager at Mon Sheong Foundation. Furthermore, he has actively participated in various volunteer activities in his spare time over the years, including Yee Hong Foundation, Canada-HK New Horizons Lions Club and Hong Kong Joint Universities Alumni Association (Ontario).

Residents in Ward 6 are asking for a new steady hand to lead the ward in 2022, and Michael has been elected as the councillor for Richmond Hill. With his knowledge and experience, Michael is a strong voice for the residents. Clear and Loud! He is all ears!