Toad People: what does it take to save a species?

Isabelle has written, co-directed, and co-produced Toad People, a documentary about hope, community and the struggle to save the western toad. Every summer, thousands of fingernail-sized western toads cover a rural road in the community of Ryder Lake in Chilliwack, British Columbia. When the toadlets migrate from their breeding ground in the wetlands into the forest, many never make it to the other side of the road. Western toads, like other amphibians around the world, are struggling because of habitat loss, climate change, and human interference. For local residents like Steve Clegg, who grew up catching tadpoles in nearby ponds, the rapid population decline is a cause for concern. Toad People introduces audiences to the stories of people like Clegg who make up the community-led movement to save this endangered species. The film follows their passion for the natural world, their fighting spirit, and their struggles.

Toad People is a local story that delivers a global message of hope. The film is not just about toads, but about people who care about endangered wildlife in their backyards, from barn owls to mountain caribou, The film serves as a powerful call to action and a hopeful reminder that any step one can take to protect a species, no matter how small it is, makes a difference and can be a life-changing experience.

Toad People is the winner of the 2018 Impact Panda Award (small budget category) at the Wildscreen International Film Festival held in Bristol, UK. Nicknamed the “Wildlife Oscars,” Wildscreen is the world’s biggest festival of natural history storytelling.

Listen to Isabelle’s interview about the Wildscreen nomination with CBC host Gloria Macarenko.

Watch the 26-minute version of Toad People now available on CBC Gem and read Isabelle’s blog on CBC about the film.

To book a film screening and/or a talk, contact Isabelle.