EXCLUSIVE: $30 orange juice, subzero temperatures… but there are still people on TINDER! Teacher reveals what life is like after moving to a VERY remote town in Canada – which takes a whole day to travel to from Montreal

• Maryse Pilon moved to northern Quebec to work as an education specialist
• The 28-year-old first lived in Akulivik, which only has about 600 residents
• In April, she relocated to a bigger community, Kuujjuaq, with 4,000 people 

Sky-high grocery prices, temperatures below minus 40 degrees and no restaurants or bars.

These are just some of the things that 28-year-old Maryse Pilon had to get used to after relocating to a very remote part of Canada for work as an education specialist. 

The Canadian accepted a job in the summer of 2021, which saw her move to the wilds of Akulivik in Nunavik, northern Quebec. 

This far flung coastal community only has about 700 residents and Maryse said the sparse population made dating a little tricky, ‘but there were still people on Tinder.’ 

Maryse Pilon moved to northern Quebec to work as an education specialist. The extreme weather has meant she has needed to dress a little differently for school

The Canadian accepted a job in the summer of 2021, which saw her move to the wilds of Akulivik in Nunavik, northern Quebec

In one of her TikToks, the teacher showcases some of the products on sale at a store in Akulivik

The Canadian relocated to a slightly bigger community called Kuujjuaq in April

The Canadian, who relocated to a slightly bigger community called Kuujjuaq in April, told DailyMail.com: ‘In Akulivik dating life was hard. 

‘There’s not a lot of people to date. In Kuujjuaq, there are more options for sure as the population is around 4,000. 

‘Even though choices are limited, you tend to meet people that have similar interests such as nature and exploring the outdoors.

‘It’s also a place where it’s easy to meet organically compared to cities like Montreal where I studied. There it’s almost 100 per cent online. 

‘When it comes to making friends, I also think you form stronger bonds in remote communities like this.’

Maryse started posting about her remote lifestyle on TikTok and now has more than 24,000 followers.

One of her videos, titled ‘typical day of a northern teacher,’ details what her working day looks like in the depths of winter. 

She explains that at 8am she walks to school through the snow, at 10:15am there is morning recess, at 12am there’s an hour-long break for lunch, and at 3pm she returns home to do some planning.

In another TikTok, she reveals what she used to wear when she was a teacher in the south of Quebec.

At the beginning of the clip she can be seen wearing a stylish outfit comprising a fitted long dress and a leather jacket.

In another video, Maryse explains that Akulivik is a ‘dry community’ and alcohol has to be ordered online and approved by an official agent

The far flung coastal community of Akulivik only has about 700 residents

While living somewhere so different has been tough, Maryse says she has learned lots about herself

In Kuujjuaq there are more options for dating as the population is about 4,000

Along with the culture shock, Maryse had to learn to exist without conveniences such as bars and restaurants, and she was also struck by a feeling of loneliness 

In the next part of the TikTok, featuring the overlaid caption ‘how I get ready now to go to school,’ Maryse sports a parka with a fur trim hood, big gloves, ski goggles, and a scarf. 

The overlaid caption then reads ‘feeling a little less cute.’

Maryse found that the hardest part of her move initially was learning to live among the Inuit community. 

She explains: ‘You realize life here is very different to what you are used to and learning to live among the Inuit world is a journey.

‘You learn to take a shift in perspective and to adapt to ways that can challenge to your values and your belief.’

Along with the culture shock, Maryse had to learn to exist without conveniences such as bars and restaurants, and she was also struck by a feeling of loneliness.

However, she said she gradually formed a social circle and met other workers who had made a similar switch to her. 

Her husky dog, Loki, also provides a form of company.   

While living somewhere so different has been tough, Maryse says she has learned lots about herself. 

She muses: ‘I used to be a people pleaser but now I think I take way better care of myself.

Maryse started posting about her remote lifestyle on TikTok and now she has more than 24,000 followers

One of her videos, titled ‘typical day of a northern teacher,’ details what her working day looks like in the depths of winter

In terms of her earnings, Maryse reveals in a clip how she earns about $60,000. The government then provides financial incentives to live in remote communities

Looking ahead, Maryse says she is happy in the north, but she hopes to start a family ‘in five years or so,’ so the quest for love might sway a return south

Maryse says she loves the proximity of nature and so does her dog, Loki

‘I am more aware of having healthy boundaries and I spend time on meaningful activities such as hiking or kayaking. 

‘I also think I am more mindful of what people can be dealing with behind the scenes – we don’t know everyone’s back stories or the trauma they have endured – and I take things way less personally.’ 

In terms of her earnings, Maryse reveals in a clip how she earns about $60,000. 

The government then provides financial incentives to live in remote communities, with these stacking up to more than $15,000.

While her monthly rent is relatively cheap – about $228 – Maryse says the cost of groceries can be up to three times the amount as they are in Montreal as all of the goods have to be flown in.

In one of her TikToks, the teacher showcases some of the products on sale at a store in Akulivik.

A four-liter bottle of water is priced at $15.99, one avocado is on sale for $6.75 and four nectarines are marked at $11.96, while a large container of Sunny D orange juice is selling for $30.19. 

When it comes to alcohol, Maryse explains in another video that Akulivik is a ‘dry community,’ and alcohol has to be ordered online and approved by an official agent.

The beer and wine orders have to be flown in. and it can take a couple of days for them to arrive. 

Travel is another big expense, but luckily Maryse’s work pay for her flights home. 

Flights from Montreal to Akulivik cost about $2,500, she says, and it took almost a day to make the trip. 

Now the journey is a little easier as direct flights run to Kuujjuaq. 

Looking ahead, Maryse says she is happy in the north, but she hopes to start a family ‘in five years or so,’ so the quest for love might sway a return south. 

She concludes: ‘I do love life here for now. I am an authentic gal and I think I get to live a pretty authentic life in the north. I also love the proximity of nature and so does my dog.’

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