Jessica Klinkenberg
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, August 22, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - When asked how she felt about leaving Yellowknife, Mary Bryant's eyes filled with tears.

"It's going to be very hard to go," she said. "We know we're going to be back."

Mary and her husband Wayne Bryant are moving to Meaford, Ont., where other family members already reside.

The pair is leaving on the heels of their successful second return to Yellowknife.

In early 1975 the Bryants made Yellowknife their home for six years before leaving the autumn of 1981.

"When we left the first time in '81, that was a hard time too," she said. "I was heartbroken, I cried all the way to Rae."

Eight years after that they returned to Yellowknife in 1989 and have stayed until now.

On Saturday they had a going away celebration at the Old Town bed and breakfast and tearoom that Mary started.

"The nicest thing about Yellowknife: There was nothing you couldn't do and that's because of the people," she said.

"If you had a dream your friends just got behind you."

Wayne said he is sorry to be saying goodbye to the community again.

"We're leaving behind a real quality community, many friends and the overall Northern environment," he said.

Mary was a member of the Daughters of the Midnight Sun and was one of the minds behind Ramona the Raven - Yellowknife's mascot.

Wayne was also active with many groups and organizations. He coached minor hockey, was a Beaver leader and he was also involved with many boards including the Northern suicide prevention board, the NWT community service board, the professional engineers board, and was one of the earliest member of the NWT Mining Heritage Society.

"I've worked up here in the North with the federal, territorial government and the municipal government," Wayne said.

He has also won the civic and heritage award to name a few of the accolades he's received over the years.

"Thank-you for your support and friendship for the past 25 years," he told the gathered well wishers. "It's not a permanent break from the North."

The Bryants' eldest daughter Tracey Breitbach said she was sad to see her parents leave, but with her pregnancy she knows they'll be back.

"One of the reasons I came to the North was because my parents were up here," she said.

"We're a pretty close family. That's why we've already decided we're going down (to visit) for Christmas."

Pat McMahon has been a friend and neighbour to the Bryants since they first came to Yellowknife.

"They were both bright lights in Yellowknife when they were both here and they were both great Yellowknifers," she said.

"I'm really glad that they're leaving their children here. It's a new generation.

"They're leaving but they're leaving behind their best part."

And McMahon has no doubts about what the Bryants will do in Ontario.

"I am quite sure that both of them will create their innovative creations no matter where they go."