Tony Tsai 
Vice President, Corporate Communications and Services | CAA Club Group
Thornhill, ON, CANADA
Tony Tsai oversees the organization's internal and external communications.
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Tony’s passion is to help individuals and organizations facilitate honest and constructive conversations with their stakeholders and the public at large. He has been with CAA since 2009 and is the Vice President, Corporate Communications and Services. He and his amazingly talented (and spirited) teams oversee public relations, media relations, internal communications, change management, business continuity planning, facilities management and corporate services.
Prior to joining CAA, he worked in various roles in communications and marketing at Canwest Global Communications and Husky Injection Molding Systems.
Industry Expertise (2)
Public Relations and Communications
Automotive
Areas of Expertise (5)
Corporate Communication
Internal Communication
Leadership
Management
Project Management
Education (1)
Wilfrid Laurier University: B.B.A., Business Administration 1999
Media Appearances (13)
Ontario residents urged to prepare for severe winter weather, emergencies
CityNews Toronto online
2022-11-17
Tony Tsai, the vice president of communications with CAA South Central Ontario, also emphasized the need for preparation. He said motorists in need of roadside assistance should keep this in mind. “On a typical day, we receive about 4,000 calls that we go out and service, and the average wait time is around 30 and 45 minutes to get there. On a peak of a winter storm, that can double or triple depending on the severity of a storm,” he told CityNews. He encouraged drivers to check their brakes and vehicle fluids and ensure their routine maintenance was now up-to-date. Tsai also stressed the importance of checking vehicle batteries. “Even a fully charged battery can lose 30 per cent of its power when the temperature drops below zero, and these days most batteries last three to five years,” he said. When heading out on a snowy day, Tsai encouraged building in lots of extra time in the commute to drive slowly and clear all snow off vehicles, wiping off headlights, topping up windshield washer fluid and checking windshield wipers. Like Bachynsky, he encouraged keeping an emergency kit. “That includes a brush, scraper, an extra phone charger, flashlight, a first aid kit, some extra warm clothing, some non-perishable food items if you have them and if you can, a candle in a can and some matches so that way it will help you keep warm in the vehicle,” Tsai said.
'Winter is different': Motorists urged to get ready for difficult driving conditions
CBC online
2022-11-16
Tony Tsai, vice-president of corporate communications and services for CAA South Central Ontario, said winter is just around the corner and drivers need to be prepared. "Now is the time to plan ahead," he said.
Snow safety tips for the next big storm
CityNews Kitchener online
2022-01-18
"One thing I think is very important for people to keep in mind on all winter days is how to prepare yourself for any car ride so that, if you do get stranded, that you're not caught in a really difficult situation," said Tony Tsai, Vice President of Corporate Communications and Services with CAA South Central Ontario. "It can be as simple as having an old laundry basket with a few key items," said Tsai. Tsai says these items include things like jumper cables, a small shovel, a candle in a container for warmth, extra warm clothes and blankets, and extra food and water. "And most importantly keep your cell phone well charged, have an extra battery pack if you can, think about having a flashlight in your car, and make sure that when you go out you have these items so if you are ever stuck somewhere you have the means to keep yourself warm and keep yourself safe," he said. On top of what's in the trunk, drivers are also reminded on bad weather days to make sure you gas-up before you set off to wherever you're going so you have a full tank in case you get stuck and need to stay warm. "If you are stuck and certainly in the winter time you want to stay warm, we really recommend you don't leave your car running on idle all the time," Tsai said, instead suggesting drivers cycle power for 10-15 minutes on and 30 minutes off. "It not only saves on gas but also helps prevent the likelihood of carbon monoxide build-up." "That's also a really big danger, especially in the winter time."
'You're going to spend more money if it sits around': Auto shops seeing more problems tied to idled cars
CTV News Kitchener online
2021-02-24
According to Tony Tsai, a spokesperson with the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA), the association has seen a 15 per cent increase in dead battery calls from its members in 2020 compared to 2019. But, Tsai pointed to extreme weather as a likely bigger factor than lack of use. “When we had really bad weather in 2018, we actually saw a 48 per cent increase in battery-related calls and in 2019 we actually saw a decrease in battery-related calls because the weather was really great,” Tsai said.
11 per cent of Canadian drivers left winter tires on all year long, report shows
CTV News Toronto online
2020-11-18
CAA says for now it has launched the mobile tire swap program in the GTA and some cities across the province. The charge is $80 to $120 depending on the CAA membership. CAA says 600 people have signed up for the service which comes to an end on December 4. It may bring the program back in the spring and next fall. “We launched the service because many of our members realize they want at home service with the pandemic these days. This way they don’t have to go anywhere and they can still have the service done to their vehicle," said Tony Tsai with CAA Communications.
Focus on well-being helps companies keep employees
The Globe and Mail online
2019-03-29
“We do a variety of programs. From a physical standpoint we’ll have challenges, we have an onsite wellness coach who can help people with their health goals, a wellness committee that looks after activities. But we also take an expansive view of what wellness looks like, so we have a great rewards program that allows employees to recognize each other and give each other points that they can redeem for goods.”
CAA offers tips for driving on slippery roads
Kitchener Today online
2019-01-24
"You have to be very prepared, and you have to be very careful. It's about three P's -- planning, preparation and patience. If you can remember those three things, it should make your driving that much safer."
Preparing for the winter driving season with CAA
Breakfast Television Toronto tv
2018-11-13
The official start to the winter season is right around the corner. The CAA is launching its public awareness campaign about what we need to do to prepare for the long winter driving season ahead. Joining Roger is Tony Tsai with tips on preparing your car for the season ahead.
CAA's predictive technology piloted in London
The London Free Press online
2018-09-30
“The system can predict the volume of breakdowns for that area. And it breaks it down into the types for us,” such as batteries or flat tires or tows, Tsai said.
AI-powered CAA roadside assistance will be dispatched before you break down
IT World Canada online
2018-09-27
“[CAA] has taken almost 112 years of roadside assistance knowledge and by applying this technology and statistical algorithms basically allows us to have a better understanding of where we’re needed most,” Tony Tsai CAA’s assistant vice president of corporate communications told IT World Canada.
Heat wave straining Peterborough air conditioner service companies
Global News online
2018-07-03
“Extreme heat can have the same adverse affects to your batteries as extreme cold. For example in really hot temperatures the water in the battery can evaporate, draining the car battery about 30 per cent more than usual,” Tony Tsai, a spokesperson for CAA South Central Ontario.
CAA has busy day with South-Central region snowfall
CHCH
2017-02-12
CAA South-Central spokesperson Tony Tsai said they received nearly 1,900 calls between 6 a.m.and 5 p.m. Over 200 calls were waiting for service in the early evening. Anyone who needed help in the Hamilton area were told to expect delays of about an hour due to road conditions and weather delaying some of their trucks from reaching stranded motorists. With more winter weather ahead, Tsai said it’s important to ensure all of the necessary snow clearing tools are within reach and to completely clear off vehicles from roof to tires before heading out onto the roads...
More snow on the way for Saturday following messy evening commute Thursday
CP24
2016-12-15
“We were seeing wait times of up to two hours in the GTA, and much longer outside the GTA,” Tony Tsai said. “Just getting trucks out to people was taking a long time with traffic and the weather.” Over 500 collisions were reported in the GTA and surrounding area since 6 a.m. Thursday, Ontario Provincial Police Sgt. Kerry Schmidt said in a tweet late Thursday night...
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