It害羞草研究所檚 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 they害羞草研究所檒l spend the majority of their lives.

However, only measuring a few centimeters in length, a toadlet害羞草研究所檚 journey from breeding grounds to living space is a highly dangerous one as they often need to cross roadways.

害羞草研究所淚 like seeing the little baby toadlets,害羞草研究所� said seven-year-old Arlie Clegg, 害羞草研究所淎nd it was sad to see the ones that got smushed by the cars.害羞草研究所�

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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.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 something Arlie and I did every day,害羞草研究所� explains her dad, Steve. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檇 go into the woods, go into the creek, check on the fish. It害羞草研究所檚 our daily life and (our kids) just happened to be there with us.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淪tarting in 2013, (we) followed the migration in Ryder Lake several times,害羞草研究所� said Groc. 害羞草研究所淲e were inspired by these people doing the work in their community.害羞草研究所�

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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害羞草研究所淭he reason why it害羞草研究所檚 called Toad People is because of the connection between people and species at risk,害羞草研究所� Groc continued.

害羞草研究所淲e (witnessed) this big community saving toads all connected to each other through their love and care and commitment to save the species.害羞草研究所�

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, it害羞草研究所檚 one of only two Canadian provinces with no endangered species law.

The idea behind the film was to 害羞草研究所渞eally showcase the fact that 害羞草研究所� you don害羞草研究所檛 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 害羞草研究所榃ildlife Oscars.害羞草研究所�

The only fully Canadian film nominated this year, the Awards are part of the world害羞草研究所檚 biggest festival of natural history storytelling and receive hundreds of submissions annually.

害羞草研究所淭he Impact category is for films that (they believe) can make an impact through visual storytelling,害羞草研究所� 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.

害羞草研究所淏udgets of all sizes can affect change,害羞草研究所� said Groc. And this film really shares 害羞草研究所減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.

害羞草研究所淚 think this film really shows you (that anyone) can make a difference,害羞草研究所� added the filmmaker.

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害羞草研究所淲e didn害羞草研究所檛 even know (about the nomination),害羞草研究所� said Clegg during a telephone interview from a boat in the middle of the Fraser River. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 taken on a whole life of its own and travelled around the world.

害羞草研究所淏ut (the nomination) doesn害羞草研究所檛 really surprise me: it speaks to (Isabelle and Mike害羞草研究所檚) talent and the art of filmmaking and storytelling.害羞草研究所�

Although the film hasn害羞草研究所檛 won yet, Clegg says he feels confident it害羞草研究所檚 already doing good things for the community.

害羞草研究所淚 hope (even) more parents will see this film and that it害羞草研究所檚 okay to care, that it害羞草研究所檚 okay to get kids involved, to keep them up late (and) get them dirty,害羞草研究所� Clegg continued.

害羞草研究所淭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.

害羞草研究所淪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, that害羞草研究所檚 a pretty powerful thing for me.害羞草研究所�

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 害羞草研究所渁 local story, but it害羞草研究所檚 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,害羞草研究所� said Groc.

害羞草研究所淚 was truly honoured to learn the film was nominated, and (we害羞草研究所檙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.害羞草研究所�

Sarah.Gawdin@theprogress.com
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