Wiarton Willie

An albino weather-predicting groundhog in the community of Wiarton in Ontario, Canada, Wiarton Willie has been forecasting the winter since the early 1980s, although Wiarton, which calls itself the "Groundhog Capital of Canada," has been celebrating Groundhog Day with a Groundhog Festival since 1956.

Prior to Willie, predictions were given by a mythical trio of groundhogs named Grundoon, Muldoon, and Sand Dune.

Around 10,000 people show up for the festivities surrounding the holiday each year. If Willie sees his shadow, then there will be six more weeks of winter. If Willie does not see his shadow, there will be an early spring.

There have been several Wiarton Willies throughout the years.

During the summer of 1985, the original Willie went missing, leading to another groundhog standing in for him for Groundhog Day 1986, and a new Willie being obtained for the new Groundhog Day.

In 1999 the then-current Willie died just before Groundhog Day, a fact which organizers kept secret until Groundhog Day, when a coffin with a taxidermied "Willie" was unveiled to the surprised crowd who had gathered for Willie's prediction. It was later revealed that it wasn't Willie in the coffin, but another stuffed albino groundhog, leading to some controversy. The following year the organizers ensured there were two albino groundhogs ready to step in as "Wee Willie" or "Wiarton Willie II".

In late 2003, it was discovered that two of Willie's understudies had died, possibly killed by Willie, a fact which was withheld from the town council for several months, leading to some controversy.

In 2021, Willie's prediction ceremony was virtual due to the COVID global pandemic, and no Willie was on hand. Instead the prediction was provided by the mayor flipping a fur hat in the air. It was revealed later in the year that Willie had died before the holiday.

A number of books have been written about Willie, including The Life and Legend of Wiarton Willie by David Haley and Groundhog Willie's Shadow by Barbara Birenbaum.