Kelly Rivera says a newcomer leaves more behind than a home country.
“You leave everything behind,” she says.
For Kelly, leaving behind her home country of Ecuador also meant leaving behind her job as a communications Manager for a non-profit, her friends, and her support networks.

She found moving scary but wanted to expand her education. Her research suggested PEI would offer a safe and peaceful place to study.
“I am from a big city,” she says. “I think being in a small town where everyone knows each other, that’s what drew me to the Island.”

Kelly started the master’s of Island studies program at the University of Prince Edward Island in 2022. She also started building her new life on PEI: gaining Canadian work experience as a Cashier and a Graphic Designer; volunteering with university and community organizations; and pursuing hobbies like softball and choir.

Near the end of her first year of studies, she launched a search for work more specifically related to public communications. Hearing of her search, a receptionist at a dentist’s office recommended that she contact PEI Connectors.

Kelly says Connectors Program Officer Elmira Moghimi recommended suitable jobs, helped improve her resume, and paid attention to her goals — not just what she had done in the past. “She was listening to what I wanted to do eventually in my career,” Kelly says. Elmira also eased Kelly’s fears that she might not be welcome as a newcomer in Island workplaces.

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Joyce was born in Tianjin, a major port city in northeastern China bordering Beijing, and lived there for over thirty years. Comparing Charlottetown to Tianjin, a city of over fifteen million people, she says, “You can get anywhere in ten minutes. Living in Charlottetown is more convenient for me.”
 
Arriving in PEI in the first pandemic year slowed new connections. In the first few months of establishing Panda Sugar, the first bubble tea shop in Summerside, Joyce would drive back and forth between Summerside and Charlottetown to find the right location. This was in addition to learning English. She had not owned a business before this time. Back in China, she worked in a bank. “I did not know how to run a business. But I loved bubble tea so I thought I would open a bubble tea shop so that I could make one for myself every day,” she says. 
 
In her home country, Joyce had little time to stop and smell the roses. One day, she asked herself what kind of life she wanted and began the journey to Prince Edward Island. The landscape furnished with trees the colour of fire greeted her when she arrived in the autumn. Joyce recalls the loveliness of the people upon first meeting, and even now that they are her neighbours. 
 
She has drawn from her professional experience at the bank and modifies her products to suit local tastes. Listening to her customers and experimenting with her products have been her keys to reaching important milestones in business. The Strawberry Milk Tea and the Brown Sugar Milk Tea are bestsellers. “I learn a lot from my customers. I chat with them, and they give me very useful suggestions,” she says. 

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Amin Ataherian says finding a job means networking — especially in PEI.

“In PEI, I think it’s a hundred times more important,” Amin says. “Everyone knows each other here.” 

Amin moved from Iran in 2018 to study at the University of Prince Edward Island. The fourth-year business student, who specializes in finance, wants to build experience in his field. “I’m hoping to find a good secure job on the Island after I graduate,” he explains, noting he wants to eventually apply for his master’s after gaining more work experience. Though he might have to leave PEI for graduate studies, he would prefer to stay. “People are really friendly and kind,” he says. “It’s an Island that I really want to be in.”

On PEI, Amin has completed two summer internships. UPEI Experiential Education helped him find an administrative role with PEI Public Safety on its PEI Pass project in 2021. Then, in 2022, he found his own internship at an accounting firm, where he filed corporate taxes and completed financial statements. He became a PEI Connectors client after reconnecting with Elmira Moghimi at an event on campus. A former UPEI student herself, Elmira had become a program officer with PEI Connectors. She told Amin the organization could help him network, connect with employers, and find work. She sends him job postings every week. Read more

Gary Scales’ involvement with PEI Connectors goes back at least a decade. As the Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce evolved its programming to include immigrants, Gary grasped the importance of this development and became engaged as a Connector. His role as Office Lead Partner for Prince Edward Island at McInnes Cooper gave him many opportunities to work with immigrants both as colleagues and as clients. “I know the struggle that they face coming here and all the value that PEI Connectors provides,” he says. 

               Aside from the personal satisfaction of giving back to the community, Gary sees two major benefits in volunteering and facilitating connections: first, newcomers find belonging and inclusion in the community, and second, they are encouraged to remain on the Island long-term and achieve success in enterprise or employment. He credits the growth and success of the PEI Connectors program to the dedication and competence of the staff who care about their clients and want to see them find solid footing in PEI. Read more

When Tasnuva Afrin lost her job at a PEI call centre, she didn’t lose her optimism. Her work experience had taught her she loved to connect with people.
“It’s energy for me,” she explains. Tasnuva says she applied to hundreds of jobs after her layoff — and PEI Connectors helped her find the right fit. “If someone is pushing you to do something, you have something in your mind that I have to do it,” she says.

Tasnuva came to Canada from Bangladesh, living in Toronto for a few months before she and her husband moved to PEI in 2018. They love the welcoming atmosphere and pace of life. “You can visit the beaches after your work,” she says. “It’s so refreshing, relaxing.”
Her work with the PEI call centre was her first job in Canada. When the call centre closed, she was upset to lose her job but felt positive she would find another role she loved.

The path was not a straight line. Her next roles included a job at a daycare and a short contract at a health lab. Along the way, her career counsellor at the Immigrant and Refugee Services Association referred her to PEI Connectors. Read more

A visit to Sabrina’s art gallery on Grafton Street revealed an intimate space housing oil paintings, watercolour and ink paintings, photography works by local Chinese artists, and a select collection by European and North American artists. Students gathered around a table to receive lessons from an art instructor. Exquisite postcards of varying styles and eras were on display at a stand near the front door. 

Sabrina landed in PEI a few hours before a snowstorm in February 2022. Originally from China, she studied in the United States, and studied art in England before immigrating to Canada. She had worked in management and oversaw the stock market listings of the company she worked for at that time. “We worked in a big city and did not like the traffic. We wanted to try new things in a quiet place,” she says. 

An immersion into the British visual art scene helped shape her business plan, which she is now implementing. The Sunday summer market in downtown Charlottetown has helped to spread the word and works of Vneed Art Gallery. “The people who visited our stall were happy to see the different artworks, including my daughter’s digital illustration,” she says.

Coming to PEI has been an opportunity to fulfill a life-long creative ambition. Her husband worked as a statistician but is the more artistic of the duo; he creates some of the art that adorns the gallery’s walls. Sabrina applies her management skills and experience to the gallery's operations. Read more

When Elvis Ng wanted to brand his business, he chose an image of two narwhals swimming in a circle.
 
“In Chinese that represents cooperation. It represents a relationship. It represents a partnership,” he says. “As a newcomer in PEI, we actually need to build our relationships with the Islanders, with our partners, with our customers, and also with other families.”
 
Elvis says PEI Connectors helped him build the relationships he needed to create Narwhal Business Solutions Inc.
 
Narwhal offers tailor-made IT solutions for retailers and other small businesses. The company specializes in point-of-sales systems — providing equipment, training staff, and integrating the technology into business operations. For example, Elvis might supply a point-of-sales system to a restaurant and then ensure orders automatically print off in the kitchen after the customer pays. “This is a totally a one-stop solution,” he explains. He also develops websites, often incorporating features like booking systems, and provides overall IT support. Read more

Before Ji arrived in Prince Edward Island with his family in March 2018, he had lived in Chengdu, voted the happiest city in China for twelve consecutive years, and then in several cities across the country including major hubs like Shanghai and Shenzhen. He worked as a regional sales manager for a big manufacturing company, a demanding role for which he travelled weekly. These pressures combined with the exhaustion of life in a busy city led him to look for alternatives. A family friend had earlier moved to PEI and spoke highly of the Island at a reunion. This was Ji’s introduction to a life of peace and quiet outside his home country. “At that moment, we felt that maybe this was guidance from God,” says his wife, Jin. 
 
The next steps came swiftly. Ji and Jin decided on the way back home from the reunion that they would take the leap. So far, PEI has lived up to their expectations. “When we walked along Victoria Park, we saw the water and the blue sky. It was very peaceful. The people said hello to us. The weather was cold, but the people were warm.”
 
Together, Ji and Jin run Moji-Fast Technology Limited, assisting Islanders transition to renewable energy by installing solar-based solutions that are cost-efficient and easy on the environment.  Read more

Martina MacDonald sees connecting people as a way of life.

“It’s rewarding,” says the self-professed extrovert. “It’s all about helping people and making it a little easier for them.”

Martina is executive director of CBDC PEI East and general manager of the Rural Action Centre in Montague. The CBDC helps entrepreneurs start or expand businesses, while the Rural Action Centre provides a hub for organizations dedicated to business and community development.

Martina says she started volunteering as a PEI Connector because she values its work, understanding firsthand the challenges newcomers encounter. She is the daughter of Dutch immigrants, who faced language barriers, isolation, and even prejudice as they tried to integrate into PEI.

“Unless immigrants have support, it is extremely difficult,” she says.

Jamie Arsenault tries to imagine how a newcomer must feel, trying to find services in a foreign place.

“You don’t just want to go off the street and talk to somebody,” says the partner at Fitzpatrick & Co. “You want a referral. You want to have trust in a person.”

Jamie says PEI Connectors provides a platform where newcomers and local businesspeople can build those relationships — and establish that trust.

His involvement as a Connector grew out of his work at accounting firm Fitzpatrick & Co., which serves many newcomer clients. As a volunteer, Jamie participates in networking events, meets newcomers to exchange ideas, and offers tax education sessions.

“It all comes back to providing information,” he explains.

Tina Dickieson says helping newcomers build a network can ease their isolation and fear in an unfamiliar place.

With a network, newcomers don’t have to Google for information late into the night. They can reach out to someone who can help.

“When they get that level of comfort in the community, it becomes a community that they really want to stay and live in,” she says.

Tina became a PEI Connector soon after taking her current role as executive director of CBDC Central PEI three years ago. At the time, she wanted to build partnerships to better serve the organization’s clients.

When David Sun got off his flight to study in Canada, he could speak one sentence in English. “‘How are you?’ That’s all,” he says with a laugh.

Support from other students, teachers, and the community helped him learn English and settle into his new home in Newfoundland. Then, looking for work, he faced new challenges. How could he find a job when he felt so shy to introduce himself to employers? Again, he received support, this time from the newcomers’ association.

“Being a newcomer myself, I’m understanding the challenge of transitioning to a new country,” says David, who now manages TD Bank in Summerside. “I would like to improve that experience for other newcomers coming to Canada.”

“Every business is a people business. Without people, your business won’t be successful in the community.”

How can we keep newcomers on the Island?

Kent Thompson says even one connection can make the difference.

“I see so many people moving to PEI and wanting to make it their home, but they’re just lacking that network or lacking that one connection that could mean the difference between them having a family, raising it here, and becoming members of the community — or leaving,” says the chief operating officer of Upstreet Craft Brewing.

“PEI’s a close community. Since so many people grew up here, it is a bit of a closed community. It’s really welcoming once you get your step in,” he says.

Mohammad Rakhshan (Makan) first visited Prince Edward Island in the summer of 2018 to look at the prospects of living here with his family. He travelled from Toronto to PEI, stopping at places in between – Halifax, Montreal, Moncton, Fredericton – and realizing that PEI was the most appealing choice. The family eventually settled in August of the following year.

Although originally from Iran, Makan studied obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Dubai with concentrations in management and marketing. He went on to Switzerland where he got an MBA in international business.

Lian was born in Xiangzhou but lived in Beijing, China. She had an established career in media and completed a master’s degree in journalism and mass communication. But the aftermath of the Sichuan earthquake led Lian to join a charity organization responsible for providing psychological assistance to survivors. She began to re-evaluate her choices and look for opportunities to spend more time with her family and write another book. She saw a picture of downtown Charlottetown and took a leap of faith in 2013.
 
The Island’s quiet appeal was a perfect complement to her new aspirations. But the going was not so smooth, especially in the beginning. Lian was keen to join in community-building activities and pursue economic opportunities, and soon found PEI Connectors events to be just what she needed. “Of course, we had work experience in our country, but the experience here for the newcomer was just so different,” she says.
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Almost two years ago, Luke and Hai immigrated to Prince Edward Island from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The couple visited the Island months prior and spent most of their time exploring coffee shops. Hai planned to establish hers but had never worked in a coffee shop before. In fact, she had a 15-year career in advertising and communications and had the double challenge of moving to a new country and building a new business from the ground up.
 
Luke had a career in the petroleum industry in Vietnam, and found work in PEI as a Fleet Services Project Manager. Shortly after they arrived, Luke attended a session facilitated by the Construction Association of PEI and was connected to the Association’s director by his program officer. He completed a four-month course, applied for a position at Aspin Kemp and Associates, and landed it. His previous experience with oversea projects has made for a smooth transition to his current role. Read more

Jonathan arrived in Prince Edward Island from Nanjing, China with his family in 2017. He ran a small company and was an irrigation engineer in a bustling city of both history and modernity. But the decision to move to Canada was for two reasons: the desire for his son to experience a richer curriculum and the opportunity to experience life under a democratic political system.
 
Before moving to the Island, Jonathan had never heard of PEI. If asked about Canada, he could speak of Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. But at an immigration agency in China, the manager described PEI as a beautiful land, much quieter than the big city he was used to.
 
He chose to venture into the hospitality industry and officially established No 1 Grafton Inn, a bed and breakfast in the heart of downtown Charlottetown. He opened his doors in February 2020 but had to shutter them as the pandemic hit. Jonathan used the opportunity to redesign the space to acknowledge PEI’s history. “I wanted to make the building have more history and culture,” he says. Read more

Abraham came to Canada from India with the hopes of providing a better future for his children. Before starting his business journey, he used to work for some of the best IT Companies, including a few years in an IT company in PEI, where he exhibited his prior skills in the latest Technologies and Program Management for almost two decades. However, due to the company’s downsizing, he had to consider other opportunities.

He focused on utilizing his advanced knowledge of technology and decided to start his company called Contacts-DB Inc (ContactBoss) (https://contactboss.com). Contact Boss is a one-stop shop for contact management requirements of small to mid-sized organizations and not-for-profits where the software not only includes Contact Management but has a variety of other features like Event Management, Follow Up Management, Visitor Management, etc. Contact Boss is developed by Contacts-DB Inc., a Canadian-based information technology and business management software developer. ContactBoss is honored to manage the entire database of PEI Connectors’ operations.

When Mazen Abouelnaja visited PEI in 2015, he was taken by the greenery, the meadows, the hills, and the beaches. The second visit with his family in 2017 confirmed that PEI was the place for them, and they relocated in the summer of 2018. Originally from Lebanon and having lived in Dubai for almost 20 years, Mazen was keen on the quiet pace of life that the Island offered. “What caught my attention is the short distance from wherever you want to be and people’s friendly nature”, he says.

Making the move from a big and bustling city like Dubai to PEI was not without challenges. With a background in sales and marketing and an MBA, Mazen had worked in Dubai as a director in a multinational company that manufactured and sold beauty products in multiple markets including the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey. Life there was busy and full of many activities. Things slowed down when they arrived. “One thing I remember is that in Dubai, my phone was always ringing. I was always on the phone, texting, and emailing. I came here and nobody was calling me. Few days passed and I realized that if I didn’t start contacting people, no one would reach out”, he says. Read more

Headquartered in Moncton, New Brunswick, goji’s brands itself as the “neighbourhood treatery” — and David & Josephine Lau are doing their best to make their Charlottetown franchise just that. “We’re here to serve the local community and bring joy,” David says, “especially to kids. And I’m proud we’ve gotten so much support.”
 
The couple are also delighted with the assistance they’ve received from PEI Connectors. Before moving here, David had never owned a business — he was a train engineer in Hong Kong. Newly arrived on PEI, the couple heard about PEI Connectors from friends and got in touch: “The program officers were very, very helpful,” David says, nodding. “They told us who to contact and arranged seminars to help us learn about how to start and buy a business.” The couple were also paired with a local business owner who shared expertise and knowledge. Read more

In bringing the Instant Imprint brands to PEI, Ranjit and Priya Chatterjee have “a burning desire to succeed and offer tremendous customer service,” in the couple’s own words.
 
Their franchise, which opened in August 2019 after the couple did extensive training, provides a range of customized marketing products, from apparel to signs to printed materials. Customer feedback has been very positive, says Ranjit: “Seeing the smiles when they get their end result, and knowing we’ve succeeded in meeting their expectations, makes us happy.”
Because 90% of orders are managed in-house, Ranjit says, they can finish jobs faster than competitors. But perhaps their biggest advantage is the product range: “A customer comes in with a picture on his phone of his family or dog – we can put it on a mug, a t-shirt, a postcard! They dream and we build it!”
 
“And it’s about the personal touch, the relationships we’re developing,” Priya adds. Read more

Sabine Schoenknecht, co-owner of Lucky Bee Homestead and Atlantic Mustard Mill, sums up her first impression of PEI: “Magical!” she says. “And it still is!”
 
Sabine and her husband Michael have created their own magic since buying their farm in Murray Harbour North in 2013. After the chicken coop, they put in a garden. To their delight, “It produced so much, we could sell some of it!” Now they have 15 hens and several beehives, which produce honey they sell at the Charlottetown Farmer’s Market. They also have jams and various condiments – including 35 flavours of authentic German mustard available in shops throughout the Maritimes. And the farm runs on solar power. Read more

Ayham Daas brings more than 20 years’ experience in business and engineering to his role as investing partner in Atlantic Doors. The company supplies top-of-the-line commercial and residential doors to customers across the Island, with certification proving their commitment to quality and safety.
 
Back in 2017, when Daas relocated with his family from Dubai, the PEI Connectors program provided wings that helped the company get off the ground. “They were angels!” he says, estimating that the program reduced the time needed to start the company “from three years to one.” PEI Connectors meant networking was much easier: “They organized lots of events, lectures, meetings – I asked if I could meet specialists in the construction business, and they made it happen. I want to thank them for all their help.”

Daas is thrilled the business is succeeding: “It makes me want to spend more time helping the business grow. I am very proud that I started from zero and built a business with the highest standards.” That the company has become one of the top three door specialists on PEI is testament to their commitment to service and safety. Read more

When Hamid Sanayie moved to Prince Edward Island, he found it strange that so many restaurants served frozen French fries. “Being in the Island, which is famous for the potato, I wondered how come everybody used frozen fries here,” Sanayie explains. “Then I realized, if they want a fresh potato, they have to cut it by hand.”

As president of Fry Factory, Sanayie hopes to change that — not only in P.E.I. but across North America. His company manufactures an automatic fry-cutting machine that can turn a 50-pound bag of potatoes into fries in just one minute.

“Doing that by hand takes too much time,” he says. Instead of pressing potato after potato through a manual cutter, the operator of the Fry Factory machine simply loads piles of potatoes into the top and then sees the machine spin out a shower of fries.

Aman Sedighi walked into Papa Joe’s with a small bowl of produce — and a desire to make a sale.

But the Iranian immigrant had no idea what to charge the Charlottetown restaurant for the fresh dill, cilantro, zucchini and tomatoes he had grown on a small plot of land. Sedighi thought he would be happy with $5 or $10. As a sharp entrepreneur, he asked the chef what he would pay.

“Around thirty dollars,” Chef Irwin offered.

“I’m not giving it to you for less than fifty!” Sedighi replied.

The pair bartered to $40, and Sedighi launched his foray into his farming business in P.E.I.

Five years later, his A-OK Gardens has grown from a plot on the dairy farm where he used to work to the 15 acres he now grows in Brookfield — plus another 91 acres for possible expansion.

When Michèle Lihrmann moved into her Victorian home in Alberton, she knew she had to open it to visitors. “We couldn’t buy this house, close the door and live inside,” she says. “That’s not possible to live like this.”

That’s because Michèle and her husband, Hubert, had purchased an Alberton landmark with a history filled with community connections and fondly remembered gatherings. Built in the 1890s for Fred L. Rogers, the Rogers House has over the years provided a home for a member of parliament, David MacDonald; and a lodge for senior citizens.

Lihrmann chats in the parlour, where the upright piano promises to entertain, and the antique furniture begs a visitor to sit and stay awhile.

When Seacy Pan and Ray Cai brought Formfree Branding to Charlottetown, they created more than a new branding, printing and photography studio. They created another support service for newcomer entrepreneurs.

“We can become a connector with Chinese people and local people,” explains Pan, chatting at Formfree on the lower level of the Confederation Court Mall.

“Most of our clients are Chinese,” Cai explains. “We have no language block. We can talk directly to them.”

This husband-and-wife team operated Formfree for about two decades as a design studio in Guangzhou, a city of approximately 14 million people in southern China. Seeking a more relaxed pace of life, the couple emigrated with their son to P.E.I. in 2015 and set up Formfree in May 2016.

Originally from Germany, Jessica and Mike Fritz started by serving a fruit tart with marzipan filling, and people raved. When Jessica couldn’t find the marzipan on P.E.I., she became concerned. Then she became inspired. “Why can’t we just bring it to Canada — starting with P.E.I.?”

Jessica and Mike Fritz have since launched Maritime Marzipan, which sells treats made from the tempting smooth mixture of sweetened ground almonds. “Everybody loves sweets, right?” says Mike, standing in the couple’s new summer shop at St. Peter’s Landing.

The couple’s love of food helped prompt their move to P.E.I. Jessica not only enjoys cooking, but also writing about food and exploring foods from other cultures.

Jessica and Mike now own and operate four businesses on the Island: Maritime Marzipan, Fritz Chocolates, The Black & White Cafe & Bakery in St. Peter's Bay, and The Gallery Coffee House and Bistro in downtown Charlottetown!

When Dawn Binns first volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters, she only wanted to make connections in her new home province. She grew up in Hantsport, Nova Scotia and moved to PEI once she obtained her Bachelor of Education degree from Acadia University in 1998. Using skills she acquired from her degree, she became a facilitator with the Adult Connections in Education (ACE) program at UPEI. As she worked, she became more interested in adding value to the community and did so through volunteering. Her first key role at Big Brothers Big Sisters was Bowl for Kids Sake, the organization’s fundraiser. In this role, she helped with marketing and communications, and did the same while volunteering with the Canadian Cancer Society.

Interestingly, these roles indicated what her job in the future would be. Volunteering helped her meet people and provided opportunities to blend her education with real-world experience. Today, Dawn is the Managing Partner of Insight Brand and Marketing Studio and serves as the 2019—2020 Board President of the Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce. She continues to serve in different roles, and as a connector throughout the Island community and beyond.

Daniel Ohaegbu moved from the capital city of Nigeria, Abuja, to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island to begin his university education. When Christmas came and several international students could not make it back home, Daniel’s solution was to throw a party in a small apartment in a residential area. Eventually, the crowd was shown the door because of noise complaints. That was the first, not the last party. With time, the crowd grew and began to include more locals. That’s how Overtime Entertainment was born. So far, it has grown to include Jonah Chininga, whose background in business from UPEI supports the vision.

Overtime Entertainment now aims to give people more than just a good time. It works to promote diversity and inclusion through social interaction. It is completing a residency at the Startup Zone, hosted events for Black History Month and more. Daniel did all of this while completing an honors program in psychology at UPEI. He was nominated for the 2019 Fusion Awards under Arts and Culture. Daniel and his team show that with passion and diligence, dreams are valid and viable in PEI.

Teresa Tu’s dedicated involvement with the international student body at UPEI. She was a member of the UPEISU Student Council, where she represented the interests of international students attending UPEI. Teresa also worked at the International Student Office and served as coordinator of the UPEI Buddy program, where she organized efforts to help international students integrate better into UPEI and Canadian society, by befriending and mentoring new students.

She moved to Canada from China to study business administration, and the connections she made by immersing herself in the local community helped her land a role as a program officer at the PEI Office of Immigration.

Riley Aiello’s journey to post-secondary employment began during his time as a summer intern with PEI Network under the Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce. Holland College’s Learning Manager, Brenda Compton, connected Riley to the program manager of PEI Network, Alana Walsh. As part of his duties, Riley worked at the PEI Network booth during a job fair put on by Skills PEI. That was where he got talking with Gloria Welton of the Employment Journey of PEI, a magazine created to highlight job opportunities found throughout Prince Edward Island, and provide resources for both employers and potential employees.

Gloria learned of his interest in human resources and informed him of an opening at the Construction Association of PEI. At that same fair, he got introduced to Sam Sanderson, who oversaw the hiring. A few months later, Riley accepted a position as the human resources advisor of the Construction Association of PEI (CAPEI).

A few months later, Riley accepted a position as the human resources advisor of the Construction Association of PEI (CAPEI). Read more