Single channel video, 2:12 minutes (loop)

Southern Ontario has the greatest diversity of turtles in Canada, found in a variety of habitats including lakes, ponds, rivers, marshes, and bogs. All eight turtle species are designated as species at risk. How do we engage with the need for these species’ protection, and not trigger a public over-saturated with grief at environmental degradation and species loss? How do we look hopefully towards a challenging future? This project forges and fosters a connection between the 2022 Canada Games, local community, and local turtle conservancy. This project seeks to embody ecological activism, “one turtle at a time.”

Grade 1 and 2 students at Jeanne Sauvé French Immersion School (DSBN) enjoyed a virtual field trip to the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre. Learning about the important work of the OTCC, the children visited the hospital, saw recovering and resident turtles, eggs, and hatchlings. The students coloured turtle images, which were scanned and animated by Brock University Visual Art students Julie Luth and Emily Macdonald. The animation was gifted to the community of children, OTCC, and the Canada Games.

By creating a platform featuring turtle images created by children, our team produced a turtle animation meant to engage and inspire. The imagery connects our current actions in wildlife conservancy to positive future outcomes: we will imagine a hopeful future for turtle populations. Through research creation processes and community engagement, we use drawing, colouring, and animation to build meaningful connections between turtle conservation and the local community.