Gavian Fang

Gavian Fang came to P.E.I. from China as a student in 2009, and attended the University of Prince Edward Island.

Charlottetown is very nice. Everyone wants to talk to you.- Gavian Fang

After graduating in May 2012, she spent six months on the Island looking for work, but had no luck.

"It's very hard to find full-time job, it's all part-time," she said.

"It's not enough for us to live in Canada, so then we decide to go to Toronto to try it."

Fang and her husband spent six months in Toronto. She found work in a bubble tea shop, but they decided to move back.

"We didn't like the city," she said.

"The feeling is not very good, not like P.E.I. The people are too busy to talk to you. Charlottetown is very nice. Everyone wants to talk to you."

Fang also sensed an opportunity. She wanted to start her own bubble tea shop, but there were already too many in Toronto. That wasn't the case in Charlottetown. She opened Charlotte Tea in the Confederation Court Mall in January 2013.

"Most of the customers come from China, but right now we have more and more Islanders coming here," she said.

With the Chinese population continuing to grow, and more Islanders discovering the joys of bubble tea, Fang believes her business will continue to be successful.