Tyler shooting off to chase Northern Lights

Tyler Collins, from Eglinton, applied for the job after seeing a post online.

The post advertising the job went viral and there were thousands of entrants from all over the world vying for the chance to chase the Northern Lights while being a tour guide.

“I saw the post because I follow Aurora Service Tours,” he explained.

“They regularly post data about where the Northern Lights can be seen and I use that to take photos. I decided to apply for the job to chance my arm. Never in the world did I actually think I would get the job.”

The 30-year-old found out he had been successful four weeks ago and will move to Finland at the end of October.

“I’ve been told that one of the determining factors in me getting the job was a post I made on Twitter. I had been out for hours chasing the Northern Lights here at home and had walked ten miles. I jokingly said ‘why am I still fat?’”

It let them see I didn’t take myself too seriously, that I was a people person and I was good craic.”

The job is for five months and it will see Tyler take tourists on dog sledding tours and snow mobile tours to chase the Northern Lights.

“It has been surreal since I found out I got the job,” he said. “It is a dream come true and if you have a dream there is no point in not following it. This adventure is something I need to do. I would regret it if I didn’t. I really can’t wait.”