ItB次元官网网址檚 not easy being a toad, especially a western toad in southwestern B.C.
Starting life in warm, shallow waters as a tadpole with hundreds or thousands of others in early spring, life can be precarious for the small amphibians, as they do their best to survive. Eventually transforming into fingernail-sized toadlets by the dawning of summer, the western toads then make their way from the wetlands of their birth to the terrestrial lands where theyB次元官网网址檒l spend the majority of their lives.
| Isabelle Groc, who wrote, co-directed, and photographed "Toad People," poses with a member of the subject matter: a western toad. (Submitted/Jakob Dulisse) |
However, only measuring a few centimeters in length, a toadletB次元官网网址檚 journey from breeding grounds to living space is a highly dangerous one as they often need to cross roadways.
B次元官网网址淚 like seeing the little baby toadlets,B次元官网网址� said seven-year-old Arlie Clegg, B次元官网网址淎nd it was sad to see the ones that got smushed by the cars.B次元官网网址�
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The oldest daughter of Steve Clegg, a well-known, grassroots conservationist in the Chilliwack area, has been hiking the land around her Ryder Lake home with her dad since before she can remember.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 something Arlie and I did every day,B次元官网网址� explains her dad, Steve. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檇 go into the woods, go into the creek, check on the fish. ItB次元官网网址檚 our daily life and (our kids) just happened to be there with us.B次元官网网址�
And in 2013, a camera crew was added to the family hikes into the wilderness in their own backyard.
While in Chilliwack working on another project several years ago, filmmaker Isabelle Groc says she and partner Mike McKinlay heard of the incredible effort being made locally to save the plight of the western toad.
B次元官网网址淪tarting in 2013, (we) followed the migration in Ryder Lake several times,B次元官网网址� said Groc. B次元官网网址淲e were inspired by these people doing the work in their community.B次元官网网址�
After several years of filming in Chilliwack, and across the province, Groc says she and McKinlay were finally able to edit their footage into the documentary film, .
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B次元官网网址淭he reason why itB次元官网网址檚 called Toad People is because of the connection between people and species at risk,B次元官网网址� Groc continued.
B次元官网网址淲e (witnessed) this big community saving toads all connected to each other through their love and care and commitment to save the species.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 save: be it amphibians, mountain caribou, rattlesnakes, or barn owls.
Even though British Columbia is home to some of the most diverse animal life in North America, including almost 2,000 at-risk species, says Groc, itB次元官网网址檚 one of only two Canadian provinces with no endangered species law.
The idea behind the film was to B次元官网网址渞eally showcase the fact that B次元官网网址� you donB次元官网网址檛 have to be a PhD or scientist (to make a difference), you just have to be somebody who cares to do something about species at risk: that any step, no matter how small, makes a difference and can be a life-changing experience (for all involved.
And an international audience agrees.
from on .
The film was recently honoured with a nomination in 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�
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.
B次元官网网址淭he Impact category is for films that (they believe) can make an impact through visual storytelling,B次元官网网址� explained Groc, who wrote and co-directed the film.
However, with so many powerful submissions this year, the Panda Awards divided the Impact category into two sub-sections, and doubled the amount of nominations.
B次元官网网址淏udgets of all sizes can affect change,B次元官网网址� said Groc. And this film really shares B次元官网网址減ersonal stories and authentic voices. Toad People is about regular people like you and I being touched and moved by the struggle of a species and doing something to help in a world where we often feel overwhelmed.
B次元官网网址淚 think this film really shows you (that anyone) can make a difference,B次元官网网址� added the filmmaker.
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B次元官网网址淲e didnB次元官网网址檛 even know (about the nomination),B次元官网网址� said Clegg during a telephone interview from a boat in the middle of the Fraser River. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 taken on a whole life of its own and travelled around the world.
B次元官网网址淏ut (the nomination) doesnB次元官网网址檛 really surprise me: it speaks to (Isabelle and MikeB次元官网网址檚) talent and the art of filmmaking and storytelling.B次元官网网址�
Although the film hasnB次元官网网址檛 won yet, Clegg says he feels confident itB次元官网网址檚 already doing good things for the community.
B次元官网网址淚 hope (even) more parents will see this film and that itB次元官网网址檚 okay to care, that itB次元官网网址檚 okay to get kids involved, to keep them up late (and) get them dirty,B次元官网网址� Clegg continued.
B次元官网网址淭he kids I see growing up in these (green) spaces are now environmental lawyers and conservation officers. Those surrounded by (nature) at a young age become the change makers for our society.
B次元官网网址淪o if this inspires a few more adults to get their kids outside to not just take a walk in the woods, but to slow down and look at who else is in those woods and what challenges they might be facing and what to do about that, well, thatB次元官网网址檚 a pretty powerful thing for me.B次元官网网址�
In October, Isabelle Groc and Mike Mike McKinlay will be making the trek across the Atlantic to The Passenger Shed in Bristol, where the 2018 winners of the Panda Awards will be revealed.
It may fee like B次元官网网址渁 local story, but itB次元官网网址檚 also global because across the world different species are facing the same, and in all those communities are locals working hard to save the species in their backyards,B次元官网网址� said Groc.
B次元官网网址淚 was truly honoured to learn the film was nominated, and (weB次元官网网址檙e) very excited to make the trip there in October and represent the film and showcase our B.C. communities that do so much to help save species at risk.B次元官网网址�
Sarah.Gawdin@theprogress.com
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