Wiarton, Ont. preparing for invasion of 'Wiarton Willie' fans on Thursday
You can forgive Wiarton Willie and his human interpreter if they’re a little nervous on Wednesday — it’s the first prediction ceremony for both of them.
“We have a new mayor, Mayor Michi. He’s been practicing his ‘groundhog-ese,' and he’s excited for his first prediction ceremony. We’re looking forward to have our albino groundhog back, all the way from Cleveland, so he’s ready for his big debut live at 8:07 [a.m.] tomorrow,” explained Town of South Bruce Peninsula’s Wiarton Willie Festival Organizer, and Manager of Economic Development, Danielle Edwards.
Following his untimely death due to a tooth abscess in late 2020, followed by two virtual prediction ceremonies due to COVID-19 restrictions, Wiarton Willie’s 67th annual winter weather prediction ceremony will return to an in-person event on Thursday morning.
A crowd of 1,000 or more are expected to greet the prognosticating marmot at 8:07 am.
“We’ve been a couple of years, virtual, so it’s been nice to see everybody back. People we haven’t seen in a couple years, for the businesses in town. We look forward to a large crowd tomorrow morning for the prediction ceremony,” said Laura Lisk, chair of Wiarton’s Chamber of Commerce.
Wiarton Willie in his enclosure in Wiarton, Ont. in November 2022. (Source: Town of South Bruce Peninsula)
Legend has it, if Willie sees his shadow there will be six more weeks of winter. If he doesn’t see his shadow, spring is just around the corner. Last year, Wiarton Willie’s brown-coated understudy predicted an early spring.
“I certainly hope he doesn’t see his shadow, and spring is here soon, and we get to see some colour and tulips. That’s my preference,” said Lisk, who is also a local real estate agent.
Whatever Willie sees or doesn’t, Wiarton is just happy he’s back, and the crowds that come with him.
“It’s not just tourists that come up. It is a homecoming for the community. It’s just a fantastic event, and we’re just thrilled to have it back, live in person, again,” said Edwards.
Prediction morning is just the start of the Wiarton Willie Festival. A weekend full of family friendly events, including outdoor skating and foosball, axe throwing, and a trackless train resumes on Saturday morning.
To learn more you can visit the Town of South Bruce Peninsula’s website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.