SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
When John Bowden began his career in education, he'd applied to more than 100 jobs across the country.

Al McDonald, assistant principal at Sir John Franklin High School, left, and Coleen McDonald, principal at St. Patrick High School, are retiring after 40 years as educators. - Kirsten Fenn/NNSL photo John Bowden, assistant superintendent of learning at Yellowknife Catholic Schools, has worked with the district for 37 years. - Kirsten Fenn/NNSL photo

It was 1980 and employment was slim in Nova Scotia, where he lived at the time.

But before long, Bowden got a call from the North, where a principal at Yellowknife Catholic Schools (YCS) wanted to hire him as a high school English and French teacher.

He and his wife packed their bags for the NWT, where he would spend the next 37 years working as a teacher and administrator for the district.

"That's how it started," said Bowden, who is retiring at the end of June from his position as assistant superintendent of learning after 37 years with the Catholic school board.

Bowden has taught many subjects over the years: English, French, religion, career and life management, social studies, phys-ed.

He served as St. Patrick High School's vice-principal for seven years and led the school's drama program, where he said some of his "most precious memories" were made watching students pursue their passions.

Bowden's legacy at the school also includes Students Against Drinking and Driving (SADD).

The group was started after a drunk driver struck him and his family on the road in 1991, leaving his son with permanent brain damage.

SADD has since gone on to raise thousands of dollars, host a national conference on preventing impaired driving and has earned numerous awards, according to Bowden.

At a YCS board meeting earlier this month, tears took over the conversation as trustees – some former students of Bowden's – spoke about how he has touched their lives.

"We were a closely knit community," Bowden told Yellowknifer.

"We looked after each other. And I think the kinds of things that go beyond the curriculum became so important, in terms of nurturing relationships and caring and compassion. When I think of my time, especially at that school, that's what I think about."

Al McDonald, vice-principal at Sir John Franklin High School, will be retiring this summer with his wife, St. Patrick High School principal Coleen McDonald, after 40 years each in education.

The pair taught in Cambridge Bay for three years before moving to Yellowknife in 1980.

"I just liked the work, liked the kids, liked the subject material," said Al, who was recently inducted into the NWT Education Hall of Fame.

Beside brief stints over the years with organizations such as the Northwest Territories Teachers' Association, Al has remained at Sir John Franklin High School.

"It's a great school to work at. It's very academic and I just found the job rewarding," said Al, adding he sometimes wonders if now is the right time to retire.

"There's never a day where I came to work and thought, 'Ah, this feels like work.'"

Coleen also has mixed feelings after 40 years in education, which she called "a lifetime investment."

She said she has built many connections with students, staff and the community during her 37 years at St. Pat's.

There, she taught art, typing, French and social studies before becoming the principal about nine years ago.

She spent six or seven years as assistant principal before that, she said, and has tried to remain involved in different activities.

She recently served on the board of the Canadian Association of Principals and has participated in workshops and professional development opportunities over the years, she said.

While Al said he and Coleen plan to do some travelling to kick start their retirement, they don't plan on moving from Yellowknife.

"This is our home," he said. "We're not doing anything crazy."

Metro Huculak, superintendent of Yellowknife Education District No. 1 (Yk1), is expecting to retire in September 2018 after he said his contract was extended last year.

Huculak has been pushing his retirement off for a few years now. He had planned to call it a day in the past, but ultimately returned to the job.

It's now his 46th year working in education, he said.

But before he signs off, Huculak wants to see more students succeed.

"That's my goal," he said, adding Yk1 has been making strides in supporting students and his "awesome" staff is part of what has kept him coming back to work over the years.

When he does retire, education will remain a part of Huculak's life.

He plans to spend time working with teachers in Africa, where he said his wife has travelled in the past through the Canadian Teachers' Federation.

"Coming up here has been a blessing for me," said Huculak, who moved to Yellowknife in 2005.

"I never would have thought things would have gone so well ... the community has just been super."

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