Many ask, “How did it all began”? The answer is easy, Mac McKenzie, our most famous resident wanted to have a party for a hundred of his closest friends. He sent out a press release inviting them to Wiarton for Groundhog Day to break the winter doldrums and have a little fun. Well, somehow the media got a hold of the story (probably ‘because Mac is a former media kind of guy) and a lone reporter came out to see what was going on. After making inquiries all over town, he was directed to the local ‘establishment’, where sure enough, Mac and his buds were raising an elbow or two (the first Wiarton Willie Festival?). When Mac was asked “where is the groundhog”? He threw a fur hat, (belonging to one of the ladies’ present, no doubt) into the snow. The reporter took advantage of the photo op and the rest they say is history.

And so it began. In the early days, Mayors were often aroused dark and early to the question “Did he see his shadow”? Now this where it starts to get fuzzy. It seems that three wise groundhogs, Grundoon, Muldoon, and Sand Dune broke hibernation to tell Mac of the birth of a white groundhog who would forever alter the world of weather prognostication. The white groundhog would be known for his uncanny ability to correctly predict the timing of spring and he would emerge each February 2nd to announce his prediction to those who spoke Groundhogese. Each Feb 2nd the media would show up and over time the fable evolved. And so it goes, another reason to “Party On”, hence the birth of the modern day Wiarton Willie Festival.

As Willie’s fame grew, so did the Festival. It matured to become the largest winter festival in Bruce County. Willie’s position as the premier prognosticator brought more fame to the town and soon Town Fathers realized their icon needed a proper entourage and the “Shadow Cabinet” was created. The Mayor of the Land and of the Marmot,(the only person who can speak groundhogese); Minister of Inter-Burrow Affairs, (to manage the political affairs); Minister of Hogwash and Hot Air, (to handle the media); Minister of Marmot Management, (to ensure the ‘home front’ is in good order); Director of Business, Buttons and Bows, (to ensure we are well decorated); Director of Surf, Sand and Fun, (to make sure there are lots of great activities to enjoy) and of course Mother Nature to make it all go well.

So famous had Willie become that in 1995 a statue was erected. With stone donated from the Adair Quarry in Hope Bay and the sculpting donated by Dave Robinson (well, almost donated, he charged the Town $19.95) a beautiful white limestone statue called “Willie Emerging” was created. The statue is located in Bluewater Park in Wiarton and is used for many photo ops, including weddings, graduations and birthdays. Aside from visiting the real Willie, the statue is a ‘must see’ for most tourists visiting the Town of South Bruce Peninsula.

Our story would not be complete without mentioning that dreaded year of 1999 when much to our horror we discovered on February 1st, our beloved Willie had died. What to do, what to do?! As luck would have it Willie had left his prediction for the Mayor, but the Shadow Cabinet took the brunt of the criticism as they rolled out their media strategy, which seemed to consist of top hats off, somber faces peering into a small casket with a ‘stuffed’ Willie no less. The outpouring of grief from children and fans was astounding. Cards and letters came in from all over the world, songs and poems were written. Condolences came in from the likes of premiers, politicians, veterinarians, meteorologists and comediennes. Willie’s death was on the news wires around the globe, programs were interrupted and moments of silence were observed. For Wiarton, it was certainly the biggest story of the decade. Heck it was the biggest story of the last 50 years!!!

Life didn’t really settle down though. Guy St. Amour rescued two albino groundhogs found crossing the 417 near Ottawa and they were brought to Wiarton to take up residence in a newly constructed groundhog mansion. Since Sam Brower sold the Wiarton Willy Motel, Willie needed to have a new residence and so the Shadow Cabinet consulted with the folks at the Toronto Zoo. Town Council agreed to subsidize the construction of a new home for Willie next to the Library in Wiarton. During this tumultuous year an additional albino groundhog was ‘dropped’ off. For a while things looked rosy , three albino groundhogs, no worry if something happened to one of them, we still had two left. As fate would have it or more likely Murphy’s Law, two of the groundhogs died in the winter! Another scandal? How could this happen, who dun it? Water in the burrow? Faulty design? Infighting? Nobody really knows, but the reigning Willie, (from the 417) was able to make the prediction for the new millennium and as it turned, out for many years to come.

Now life came at a more relaxed pace, Willie was settling into a new role, the computer age was upon Willie and Willie was seen everywhere, the Wiarton Willie Festival won awards. This blissful state went on for seven years until the spring of 2006, when Willie got an infection that just couldn’t be shaken. Under the watchful and wise care of Wiarton Veterinarian, Doctor Chuck Robbins, Willie seemed to get better. Willie did a photo shoot for Fairchild Television, but shortly after took a turn for the worse and succumbed to the infection on July 11, 2006. Again, the media were hot after a ‘story’ but it was not to be. Our dear Willie had died. The Town had been well served and Willie would be sorely missed. A memorial service was held on July 17 and approximately 300 people and all the major media turned out to pay their last respects.

And then the calls started to roll in, a sighting here, a sighting there. It seems that albino groundhogs can be found in certain areas of the province and luckily Grey Bruce is one of those areas. The Jennens of Markdale, big Willie fans we might add, happened to spot an albino groundhog in their back yard on Canada Day and were so excited they wrote a letter to the editor. When they heard that Willie had died, they knew that fate had intervened. The Jennens managed to secure the albino groundhog and happily donated the groundhog to the Town of South Bruce Peninsula. The new Willie was successfully transported and now resides in a mansion (by groundhog standards) next to the Library and across from Bluewater Park. Earlier in the summer, Shouldice Designer Stone, donated and helped install, along with the Wiarton Rotary Club and Council members, a new stone product for Willie’s home. At the same time RE/MAX became Willie’s main benefactor and his home is now called “Willie’s RE/MAX Home”.

Also this summer (2006) the Town was able to hire a student to greet visitors at Willie’s home. Ana Ratcliffe became the “Groundhog Expert Extraordinaire” and over the course of the summer she greeted and informed more than 4,500 visitors. People who came just to see Willie! What a summer it was!