Wiarton Willie! - The Bill Beaver Project

What is it?	Wiarton Willie is an albino Canadian groundhog who predicts when winter will end and spring will begin!
What makes it wonderful?	Wiarton Willie is a magical, weather-predicting groundhog, who may have been summoned from thin air! In 1956, a reporter for the Toronto Star came to Wiarton thinking Mac McKenzie had invited him to a Groundhog Day festival, when it was actually just a party. To give the reporter a story, Mr. McKenzie took off his wife’s fur hat, put it in a makeshift burrow, and made a weather prediction. Since then, prestige began to grow for Wiarton’s “white groundhog,” and in the 1980s, an actual white groundhog, the first Wiarton Willie, was discovered! Now the centerpiece of a massive yearly festival, Willie’s talent for weather prediction has transcended lifetimes. The Willie in charge now is the third albino groundhog in line, with a fourth waiting in the wing, in case anything should happen to the standing Willie. Long live Wiarton Willie!
How can I Help the Helpers?	HERE’S HOW: Leave a donation in the box at Willie’s home! Become a member of the Wiarton Lions Club! Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
Where is this place?	Willie lives on the north side of the Wiarton Chamber of Commerce Building: 402 William St Wiarton, ON N0H 2T0 From Niagara Falls: ~190mi (306km) — 3.2hrs From Ottawa: ~343mi (553km) — 5.8hrs From Thunder Bay: ~731mi (1177km) — 12.2hrs From Toronto: ~143mi (231km) — 2.4hrs
When should I go?	The Wiarton Willie Festival takes place every February 2nd, but Willie greets visitors in spring, summer, and fall!