Eric has spent the much of the past 10 years as the assistant deputy minister of education, including a two-year stint as acting deputy minister.

Marilyn's tenure at Sir John Franklin high school in Yellowknife has stretched over 10 years where she served as a department head.

Their original plan was a familiar one -- to come to the North for one year.

"I guess it kind of stole our hearts right away," Marilyn explained. "We started out in the smaller communities (Coral Harbour, Arviat and Iqaluit) and we certainly gained a lot of respect for the cultures of the North."

The decision to leave naturally involved some contemplation and reflection, according to the Colbournes.

"It's difficult leaving here, there's no doubt about that," said Marilyn, who teaches English for students in grades 9 through 12. "I saw my students last Thursday -- for the last time -- and I'm already starting to miss them."

And Sir John Franklin principal Anne-Mieke Cameron said she, too, will miss Marilyn.

"She's very much admired by her colleagues. When we had an assembly at the end of the semester, student council said, 'She was the best English (teacher) I ever had," Cameron said, adding that Marilyn has helped develop the English enrichment programs and an advanced placement course.

"She is very effective with all kinds of students. She's a lot of fun, too."

Eric, who has also served as the first director of the Baffin Divisional Board of Education and the assistant superintendent, said he has mixed emotions about leaving. He's said he's excited to be going home but, "it's going to be extremely difficult to break the ties that we've built in the North."

The Colbournes, who have raised three children in the North, plan to operate a bed and breakfast, form a small management consulting company and hope to offer their services to local colleges as contract instructors.

Eric said he has seen "tremendous positive change" in education in the past three decades.

"When we came on the scene, aboriginal children weren't even allowed to speak their own language on the playground," he said.

"Now, there's a very strong emphasis on aboriginal languages in the school system and the training of aboriginal teachers."

Mark Cleveland, deputy minister of education, said Eric's contribution in the North won't soon be forgotten. "In the Baffin, he was a leader in the development in community-controlled education and the establishment of schools that reflected the cultures of the communities they served," said Cleveland, who worked with Eric for close to 20 years.

"He has continued to take action towards those goals."