Harrison documentary to focus on weather-related risks, wildfire challenges locally

HARRISON – Harrison Hot Springs resident Ross Buchanan says the village is facing flood and wildfire risks and hopes residents can learn more about some of those challenges through a free documentary that will be shown at a local hotel next week.

The documentary is titled, “Trouble in the Headwaters” and will be aired next Wednesday, May 13 at 7 p.m. at the Harrison Beach Hotel, 160 Esplanade Avenue, next to the Black Forest. The documentary screening event is free to the public and features a community discussion afterward that will better explain some of the climate risks in clear, practical terms.

Residents who attend can learn the latest on flood and wildfire risks in the Miami River watershed, how upstream changes affect Harrison directly, and what practical steps the Village of Harrison Hot Springs should pursue to reduce risk for local homes and neighbourhoods.

The documentary filmmaker behind the production is Daniel Pierce, a journalist who was nominated for the National Media Digital Publishing Award. He delves into the scene behind forest ecologies, the current and future impacts of climate change, and what these shifts mean for vulnerable forested communities, as well as the unintended consequences of failing to adapt. His work has been featured in The Narwhal, CBC, Knowledge Network, Vice and Seeker. His six part CBC investigative Podcast, Pressure Cooker, was named as one of Apple’s Top Podcasts of the Year.

Buchanan says Pierce’s documentary provides local residents with a chance to get informed, ask questions, and be part of shaping Harrison’s climate‑ready future. This documentary and discussion offer a clear, evidence-based look at the risks in the headwaters and their downstream impacts. The message is simple: the cost of inaction is rising, and the time to adapt is now, Buchanan says.

For example, clearcutting, both within the Miami River watershed and near the village, significantly increases the risk of flooding and wildfire to the community, he says.

Clearcuts can amplify surface runoff by as much as 18 times, while also increasing the likelihood of wildfire ignition near populated areas by up to fourfold.

Buchanan invites the community to attend the event so that locals can better understand what the village of Harrison Hot Springs needs moving forward.