While Wiarton Willie will make his annual prognostication about a long winter or early spring as usual this year, the festival that accompanies the annual event is cancelled.
The Town of South Bruce Peninsula says in a release, “Due to concerns over the spread of the Covid-19 Omicron variant and in consideration of public health and safety, the Town has changed the format of the 2022 Wiarton Willie Prediction morning event to adhere to provincial regulations.”
The prediction will proceed at 8:07 a.m. on February 2nd, 2022, via live feed with no public attendance. Links to the live feed will be provided closer to the event.
Mayor Janice Jackson says in a statement, “The decision to alter our event was inevitable, however, the health and safety of our residents and staff is of the utmost importance,” says Jackson, adding, “We hope that this time next year, we will return to celebrating Willie’s prediction together.”
The Wiarton Willie festival activities scheduled for February 5th are cancelled. Jackson explains, they had planned for a company to provide rides and activities at the festival. Jackson says the Town was due this week to sign that contract which Jackson says was worth tens of thousands of dollars, “Even if we cancelled it we would lose all the taxpayer money,” says Jackson explaining the Town decided not to sign the contract, and instead to cancel the event. Jackson notes the Wiarton Lion’s Club which runs the annual dance, casino night and hockey tournament has cancelled their events as well.
Spectators will not be watching an albino groundhog make its prognostication this year. The Town’s albino prognosticator passed away leaving a brown understudy in charge of making the 2022 prediction.
Jackson says the Town looked for another albino groundhog to replace the deceased Willie, but couldn’t find one in time.
Bayshore Broadcasting will carry prediction morning on its stations on February 2nd. You can tune in to hear Willie’s prognostication on AM 560 CFOS, Mix 106.5, Country 93.7, or 97.9 The Bruce. You can also follow @newsbayshore on Twitter for Groundhog Day updates.