Wiarton Willie sees spring on the horizon

Wiarton Willie had his work cut out for him predicating the ever changing weather expected to close out the winter.

“Willie did not see his shadow. We’re going to have an early spring,” were exactly the words a crowd of cold and winter-weary Wiarton Willie fans wanted to hear early this morning at the albino groundhog’s annual winter prediction ceremony.

“Amazing. I’m so happy. No more snow days,” said Eva Smyth from Bradford, Ontario.

The counties of Grey and Bruce (where Wiarton is located) have been hit hard with road and school closures this winter. Some students have had as many as 20 snow days this winter, so you can imagine the crowd’s delight at Willie’s prediction of an end to winter.

“I’ve had enough of the snow. It’s time for people to get back outside when they can actually open the doors from all the snow,” said Bonnie Anderson, from Kearney, Ontario.

“I’m very hopeful. After a few snow days in a row, that we’re going to get some sunshine,” said Jackie Ralph, from Owen Sound.

“Oh, everybody was praying, I think, for an early spring, so it was it was good. It was good news to hear,” said South Bruce Peninsula Mayor Jay Kirkland, who acted as Wiarton Willie’s “interpreter” during Saturday morning’s prediction ceremony.

Since 1957 people have been making the trek to Wiarton to see what Willie has in store for the rest of winter. If he sees his shadow, it’s six more weeks of winter, if not, it’ll be an early spring - or so the story goes.

Either way, this year’s event drew visitors from all over Ontario, and as far as Tokyo and Montreal.

“I’ve never had something like this in like Japan or like in Tokyo. So it was a good experience,” said Japanese exchange student, Saji Sinichen.

“I think it’s awesome. I really do. I’m so happy to be here. I’ve been wanting to be here all my life... I came from Toronto,” said first time attendee, Barb Smith.

“I’m Team Shadow so I’m a little disappointed, but it’s all good, it’s all fun. Looking forward to a great day,” said Laurie Page, from Montreal.

“I came all the way from Kitchener. I’m a teacher, I did a whole thing about Willie with my class on Friday and I told the kids to look for me on TV. So, here I am,” said Miss Crawford.

“I don’t know, it seems pretty snowy and cold out here still, so we’ll see if it comes true or not. But, yeah, I’d be happy either way. I’m just happy to be here with Willie,” said Lauren Lang from Port Hope, Ontario.

“I just love Willie so much. I’m happy to hear any prediction, because any prediction is a good prediction,” said Katrina Fries, also from Port Hope.

Planning is already underway for next year’s Wiarton Willie Festival and prediction ceremony, which will mark 70 years of groundhog prognostication along the Bruce Peninsula.