Honored to Receive the Markham–Unionville Achievement Award from MP Paul Chiang

I’m incredibly honored to receive the Markham–Unionville Achievement Award from MP Paul Chiang, recognizing my contributions to education advocacy, community service, and civic engagement. This award means a lot to me—not just as a personal achievement, but as a reflection of the work we can accomplish when we come together to make a difference.

From the beginning, I’ve always believed that strong schools create strong communities. Education is at the heart of everything I do, and I’ve spent years working to ensure that parents have a voice, students have the resources they need, and schools remain accountable to the families they serve.

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How It Started: A Passion for Community Engagement

Years ago, I founded Active Community Engagement (ACE) because I wanted to encourage more people—especially young people and parents—to get involved in municipal issues. It started as a small effort to raise awareness, encourage civic participation, and help residents understand how local decisions impact their daily lives.

Over time, I realized that education is one of the biggest areas where communities can make a real impact. I shifted my focus to helping parents engage in school councils, navigate education policies, and advocate for better school resources. The more involved I became, the more I saw how much work still needed to be done.

That’s why I’ve committed myself to:

• Encouraging parents to be active participants in their children’s education—whether that means joining school councils, attending board meetings, or simply knowing their rights.

• Advocating for fair school funding and better resources for students so that every child, no matter their background, gets the support they need to succeed.

• Building stronger connections between parents, educators, and decision-makers so that families feel heard and supported.

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Why This Award Matters

Receiving this award is an incredible honor, but to me, it’s not about recognition—it’s about responsibility. It’s a reminder that the work isn’t finished. There are still many challenges facing our schools, and we need to continue pushing for positive change.

Markham is growing, and with that growth comes new opportunities—but also new challenges. Our schools need to be equipped to handle increasing enrollment, evolving curriculum needs, and the expectations of families who want the best education possible for their children.

This award strengthens my commitment to:

• Giving parents a stronger voice in school decisions

• Ensuring transparency in how education policies and funding impact students

• Working toward practical solutions that benefit both schools and families

I truly believe that education advocacy isn’t just about policies and funding—it’s about people. It’s about the students who deserve the best education possible, the parents who want to be involved but don’t always know where to start, and the teachers who do their best despite challenges.

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What’s Next?

For me, this award is just the beginning. I will continue to:

• Support parents in navigating the school system

• Advocate for resources that directly impact student success

• Engage with families to ensure that every voice is heard

I want to thank MP Paul Chiang for this recognition, as well as the many parents, educators, and community members who have supported me along the way. This is a shared achievement, and I’m excited for what’s ahead.

Let’s keep working together to build stronger schools, stronger communities, and a better future for all students in Markham.