Photo By Claire McCormack
While there is still no official confirmation if Wiarton Willie is alive, recent comments from the Mayor of the Town of South Bruce Peninsula leave a sense of optimism about his well-being.
The status of Wiarton’s famed albino prognosticating groundhog has been shrouded in mystery since his no-show on Groundhog Day.
In an ode to the original tradition started by Mac McKenzie in 1956, South Bruce Peninsula Mayor Janice Jackson tossed a woman’s fur hat in the snow and announced it would be an early spring in a pre-recorded video released on prediction morning, Feb. 2.
While the big reveal this year included appearances from Premier Doug Ford and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the actual star of the show was absent.
Speculation ran rampant about the health of Wiarton’s beloved albino groundhog after he missed out on the big day. A news release from the Town of South Bruce Peninsula in the aftermath only further fueled uncertainty about his well-being, starting with a simple question: Is Willie dead or alive?
In an appearance on the Open Line on 560 CFOS on Friday, Mayor Jackson was asked to provide assurance Willie is indeed in good health. While not directly answering, she did acknowledge Willie will make his return to the festival next year.
“Willie’s going to be there,” Jackson chuckles. “He’s going to be screaming and yelling and thinking ‘what the heck, I missed a whole year!'”
In a follow-up interview to clarify if these comments indeed meant Wiarton Willie is alive and well, Jackson says that will have to remain a mystery until next year.
Several albino groundhogs who have ascended to the role of Wiarton Willie have perished in the past. This may explain Willie’s absence this year, while leaving ample time for an heir to rise to the throne in 2022.
It’s also possible Willie is alive and merely slept in on prediction morning.
As one who speaks “groundhogese” and has translated Willie’s prediction in recent years, Jackson’s assurance he will be back in 2022 perhaps comes from first-hand knowledge in speaking with the famed prognosticator himself.
She says we’ll just have to wait and see to learn more.
Jackson adds the Town looks forward to organizing a big Wiarton Willie Festival in 2022 and plan to treat it like its the 65th anniversary, as this year’s event was unable to be the usual party it is because of Covid restrictions.
“It’s a fun day and it was sad to not be able to have that big festival,” Jackson says. “Because it’s such a high point for all of Wiarton and South Bruce Peninsula.”