A Lake Country manB次元官网网址檚 dream of documenting wildlife and making a difference in the world has come true.

Filmmaker Mike McKinlay spent the last three and a half years creating Toad People, with co-creator Isabelle Groc, which is a documentary based on the conservation efforts that Chilliwack residents and grassroots conservationists have been making in order to preserve western toad populations.

The toads are at risk due to habitat loss as humans encroach on their wetlands.

The film recently won the Impact category at the Wildscreen Panda Awards, which have been dubbed the B次元官网网址榃ildlife Oscars.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲hen we won, for the first time, my jaw actually (dropped),B次元官网网址� McKinlay said.

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B次元官网网址淲hen I heard the name and the winner is B次元官网网址楾oad PeopleB次元官网网址� we were in disbelief, it was very exciting, I almost fainted when I tried to get up the stairs.B次元官网网址�

Produced by the Wilderness Committee, Toad People not only tells the story of the western toad, but of any wildlife species that people across B.C. are attempting to saveB次元官网网址攂e it amphibians, mountain caribou, rattlesnakes or barn owls.

Toad People is the only fully Canadian film nominated this year. The awards are part of the worldB次元官网网址檚 biggest festival of natural history storytelling and receive hundreds of submissions annually. The awards were announced Oct. 19 at The Passenger Shed in Bristol, England, one of the oldest train stations in the world.

McKinlay, 42, attributes his passion for film and wildlife conservation to growing up in the Okanagan, surrounded by nature.

B次元官网网址淲e grew up in the forests near Coral Beach in Winfield and I spent my whole life until I was about 22,B次元官网网址� he said.

Growing up in Lake Country, he attended George Elliot Secondary before Kelowna Secondary School after he moved to Kelowna.

B次元官网网址淭hat was just where I became who I was,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 definitely a part of who I am.B次元官网网址�

After having an epiphany at 23 that led him to want to pursue filmmaking, he moved to Vancouver.

He started by creating wildlife documentaries on the side, often for no money.

B次元官网网址淔ilming wildlife is a tricky business,B次元官网网址� he said.

His first documentary Crows was sold to the Knowledge Network.

B次元官网网址淵ou need to get out and film these animals and do it for no money because youB次元官网网址檙e not going to get paid to do it right away and you need to make these contacts. When I think about my journey through all these years, itB次元官网网址檚 just been meeting people and connecting people,B次元官网网址� McKinley said.

After Crows, McKinlay started getting phone calls from biologists and conservationists, asking to make videos. Those connections eventually led to the creation of Toad People.

B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e not just going to jump into a big film like that and be a success, (you really have to) crawl your way to the top,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t was literally 15 years of just getting to know everybody that I needed to know and then getting to a point where you have the trust of the wildlife and conservation community, so they let you into their world.B次元官网网址�

He said people connected with Toad People because it shows the co-existence of people with nature and it also showcased an at-risk species that no one knows about.

B次元官网网址淲e took a risk in not documenting a big ticket species like a bear or a whale. Instead, we targeted a species that never gets championed and I think it struck a chord with the festival and with people,B次元官网网址� he said.

The crew is currently talking with international distributors to decide where the film will be showcased.

B次元官网网址淚 think weB次元官网网址檙e sort of at a plateau now,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 all been a little bit exciting to see where this continues.B次元官网网址�

At the end of the day, the centre of the film is about the ability of the average everyday personB次元官网网址檚 ability to make a difference in the world.

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B次元官网网址淭he only hope that we have is that it changes how people look at the world and wildlife and endangered speciesB次元官网网址� thatB次元官网网址檚 what this is all about, changing the laws and making people understand whatB次元官网网址檚 at stake and making people realize that anyone no matter who you areB次元官网网址� anybody can go out and make (a) change like this. The more that the film gets out there, the more people learn that they can make change and we can change the world. ThatB次元官网网址檚 the only reason we make these films,B次元官网网址� he said.

He said the next step is working with the Knowledge Network to create another community-focused documentary.

B次元官网网址� With files from Sarah Gawdin

carli.berry@kelownacapnews.com
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