There's a new Wiarton Willie in South Bruce Peninsula and just like his predecessor, he's an albino groundhog.
Town officials announced the latest incarnation of the famous weather-prognosticating rodent on Monday afternoon. This followed a nearly 6-month search launched after the previous Wiarton Willie died in early March. "We know how much Willie means to our community and to people across Ontario and Canada,” Mayor Jay Kirkland said in a statement. “After saying goodbye to Willie earlier this year, we are thrilled to welcome a new albino groundhog to South Bruce Peninsula. We look forward to watching him settle into his new home and, of course, seeing what he has to say about the weather on February 2.”
Wiarton Willie and the festival of the same name has attracted people to the area each February since the 1950s and is considered one of South Bruce Peninsula’s most beloved traditions.
The town plans to share more details about the new Wiarton Willie as he settles in and prepares for his first official prediction on February 2,2027.
In the meantime, the public are encouraged to follow Wiarton Willie on Facebook and Instagram.
