Wiarton Willie

Wiarton Willie 2022 Festival and Prediction Morning

South Bruce Peninsula is home to Canada's most famous weather prognosticating groundhog Wiarton Willie!

Each year on February 2nd, people from around the world eagerly wait to see if Wiarton Willie will see a shadow indicating 6 more weeks of winter, or not see a shadow, predicting an early spring.

We are seeking quotes from local restaurants, caterers, food vendors and or food trucks to provide 800 pre-wrapped breakfast options. The offering must include a meat and non-meat option, must be prepared in advance, kept warm at the event and be pre-wrapped for ease of distribution. View the full Request for Quote for 2023 Festival Breakfast Options

Prediction morning February 2nd

We celebrated the 66^th anniversary of Wiarton Willie's Prediction on February 2^nd, 2022. The event started at 7:55 am.

Due to concerns over the spread of the Covid-19 Omicron variant and in consideration of public health and safety, the Town changed the format of the 2022 Wiarton Willie Prediction Morning event-we livestreamed the event to the Town's YouTube Channel.

Wiarton Willie didn't see any shadow today. Mayor Jackson proudly announced to the virtual audience that we will have an Early Spring! If you missed the prediction, you can view it by going to the Town's YouTube Channel.

Photo courtesy of Shelley Partington 2022 Wiarton Willie Virtual Prediction Morning

Our 2022 Platinum and Gold sponsor

We are pleased to welcome Bruce Power as our Platinum and Gold sponsor.

As a leader in Canada’s nuclear industry, Bruce Power provides Ontario families and businesses with reliable, carbon-free electricity and life-saving medical isotopes. Our electricity production is crucial in the fight against climate change and the transition to a robust, Net Zero economy. Bruce Power’s Life-Extension Program will extend the life of its nuclear fleet, creating and sustaining over 20,000 highly-skilled jobs annually, driving the province’s economy, especially in the Clean Energy Frontier region of Grey, Bruce and Huron counties.

Bruce Power Logo

Our 2022 Friends sponsors

Lax OSullivan Logo TD Logo Barrys Construction Logo Tim Hortons Logo

Festival events

If you are hosting an event during the Wiarton Willie Festival Weekend and you would like to be included on our website or in the program please fill out the application and return it to Town Hall.

Groundhog Mixed Curling Bonspiel

Feb 4, 2023 from 8am to 6pm at the Wiarton Curling Club

Contact bridden47@gmail.com for information and registration

Cost $160 per team

Fun curling tournement where no experience is necessary. Two (8-end) games

Continental brakfast and lunch provided and there will be prizes for all curlers.

History and past predictions

How it all began

Wiarton has been celebrating the Wiarton Willie Festival for over 65 years. The event began with Mac McKenzie who wanted to have a party for a hundred of his closest friends. He sent out a press release inviting them to Wiarton for Groundhog Day to break the winter doldrums and have a little fun. The media got a hold of the story and a lone reporter came out to see what was going on. After making inquiries all over town, he was directed to the local 'establishment', where sure enough, Mac and his buds were raising an elbow or two. When Mac was asked "where is the groundhog?" he threw a fur hat into the snow. The reporter took advantage of the photo op and the rest they say is history.

The legend

Legend has it that three wise groundhogs, Grundoon, Muldoon and Sand Dune broke hibernation to tell Mac of the birth of a white groundhog who would forever alter the world of weather prognostication. The white groundhog would be known for his uncanny ability to correctly predict the timing of spring and he would emerge each February 2nd to announce his prediction to those who spoke Groundhogese.

These prognostications brought locals and visitors from near and far, soon turning into an annual festival. As Willie's fame has grown, so has the Festival which has matured to become the largest winter festival in Bruce County.

The Shadow Cabinet

Willie's position as the premier prognosticator brought more fame to the Town and soon the Town realized their icon needed a proper entourage and the "Shadow Cabinet" was created. The Shadow Cabinet is led by The Mayor of the Land and of the Marmot, the only person who can speak Groundhogese. Shadow Cabinet Members over the years have included: The Minister of Inter-Burrow Affairs, The Minister of Hot Air and Hogwash, The Minister of Marmot Management, The Director of Business, Buttons and Bows, The Director of Surf, Sand and Fun, Mother Nature, The Minister of Sea, Sand and Sun, The Minister of Youthful Affairs, The Minister of Ancient Affairs, the Festival Founder and local MP's and MPP's.

Dignitaries who have accompanied the Shadow Cabinet have included the Chiefs of our First Nations neighbours, the Town Criers, the Premier of Ontario and Festival sponsors.

Past predictions

Each year, Willie makes a prediction at 8:07 am.

Sponsorship Package 2023

Sponsors are critical to the success of any community event. Please consider sponsoring the 2023 Wiarton Willie Festival. You can view the sponsorhip package and/or contact Danielle Edwards, Manager of Economic Development and Communications for more information.

Where does Willie live?

You can visit Wiarton Willie from May until September in his home in Bluewater Park.

The Mac McKenzie award

2022 Mac McKenzie award

Jeff Brown is our 2022 Mac McKenzie award winner. Jeff helps with the Wiarton Willie Festival each year and has been known to escort Wiarton Willie to various Festival events and even to schools. Jeff helps with local hockey teams, promotes history and heritage in our community and graciously hosts guests at his bed and breakfast, the Wright House in Wiarton. Jeff is kind and enthusiastic and we are celebrating him by giving him the 2022 Mac McKenzie award.

Past Recipients

2010 John Aiken

2011 Alan Given

2012 Joe Bell

2013 Jim Mitchell

2014 Keith Gilbert

2015 Joanne Lancaster

2016 Paul Sutter

2017 Bruce Peninsula Association for Community Living

2018 David Nixon

2019 Mary Lynn Standen

2020 Angie McDougall

2022 Jeff Brown

The Mac McKenzie Award is given to an individual or organization who works tirelessly for our community and demonstrates a selfless volunteer commitment.

Willie's Kid Zone

Downloadable Colouring Pages

Firefighter

Good Night

Happy Groundhog Day

Hiking

Your Prediction

Puzzles

Willie Word Search

Willie Secret Message (Math)

Willie's Statue

Willie became so famous that in 1995 a statue made from stone donated by Adair Quarry and sculpting donated by Dave Robinson. A beautiful white limestone statue called "Willie Emerging" was unveiled in Bluewater Park on February 3, 1996 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Wiarton Willie prognostications.. The statue located in Bluewater Park in Wiarton is a perfect opportunity for a photo op. The statue is a 'must see' for most tourists visiting the Town of South Bruce Peninsula.

Photo of Wiarton Willie Statue

The Wiarton Willie statue started out as a single piece of dolomite limestone weighing approximately 7 tonnes. The stone donated Arriscraft Corporation/Adair Quarry in Hope Bay, 20 kms north of Wiarton. Arriscraft Corporation has provided stone for buildings such as Canada's Embassy in Washington, the locks of the Rideau Canal and the Peacekeeper Monument in Ottawa.

Dave Robinson, an artist from the area, apprenticed in marble carving in Carrera Italy and has several works on display in Toronto and Ottawa. Robinson donated his time and talent to sculpt the image of the weather-forecasting groundhog. Robinson began the work in the summer of 1995. The statue is statue life-like and natural looking with some minimal stylization. Robinson left the statue roughly carved so the crystals in the stone help to keep the look close to that of the albino groundhog. The completed statue weighs approximately 4.5 tonnes.

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