Sophia Palahicky, creator of a local dance studio, and her husband Glen Palahicky, principal at Veritas Catholic School, will be leaving Terrace as the family sets its sights on Winnipeg.
The decision comes after Sophia's acceptance of a new job at the University of Manitoba (U of M).
Sophia will be heading out this February and will be joined by Glen and their two children, Victoria and Jonathan, in July.
Sophia started her dance studio, Sophia's School of Dance, 11 years ago and saw it grow from seven students to 150.
The school currently hosts dance classes evenings and weekends at Skeena Junior Secondary.
She plans on getting her dancers ready for their end-of-year recital as well as the Pacific Northwest Music Festival before she leaves and will be returning for year-end productions in April.
Sophia says that while dance classes will continue as normal this year, it has not been decided who will take over the studio or what will happen next year.
“I would hope that one of my students or affiliate teachers would take over the school and continue the work that I have started,” Sophia said.
Currently Sophia works as an online instructor and designer at North Coast Distance Education School in Terrace.
She works with adult students who are completing their high school diplomas.
At the U of M, Sophia will not be teaching, she will instead be designing courses at the university level.
“I will be designing online courses as opposed to teaching them, I'm very excited about it, it’s going to be great,” Sophia said.
Sophia, who is originally from the Bahamas, is also pleased about the move because it will bring her closer to the east and her family, who still lives in the Bahamas.
Her husband, Glen, has been the principal at Veritas Catholic School for eight years.
He is planning on seeing the school year out, and will be looking for similar employment with the Catholic school system in Winnipeg.
Originally from Terrace, Glen himself attended Veritas as a student and in total has spent 17 years either attending or working at the school.
He is not sure who will be replacing him as principal.
The Catholic school board will hire the best possible candidate, but he’s not sure if it will be someone from within the school, Glen said.
The family has been in Terrace for 12 years and is sad to go but looking forward to new opportunities to come.
“I am thankful for my work here, excited about new possibilities and sad to miss friends,” Glen said.
He also wanted to convey his thanks for all the support his family has received in Terrace, adding that it will always be home.