Balzac Billy, the famous weather predicting groundhog, says it will be an early spring.
A crowd gathered at Blue Grass Nursery, Sod, and Garden Centre, early Sunday morning for breakfast - hoping to hear good news.
With a frosty temperature of -23, a windchill bumping it up to -30, and snow dusting Highway 2, it seemed all but certain there would be six more weeks of winter.
But to everyone's surprise, Balzac Billy emerged from his burrow, cold, yet optimistic. He confirmed his spring prediction by waving around a bouquet of flowers.
Manitoba Merv also predicted an early spring, as did Ontario’s Wiarton Willie.
Quebec’s Fred La Marmotte, Barrington, N.S’s Lucy the Lobster, Nova Scotia’s Schubenacadie Sam, and Pennsylvania’s Punxsutawney Phil have all declared six more weeks of winter.
Blue Grass Garden Centre has hosted the Balzac Billy Groundhog Day forecast for 14 years, with Sunday's event marking the 22st time Balzac Billy has made a weather prediction. Before 2011, the event was held at the Balzac Community Hall.
Groundhog Day dates back to 1886, with Punxsutawney Phil making the first prediction. Unlike the United States, Groundhogs are not active to Canada - prompting many communities across the country get creative on Feb. 2nd.
Billy is technically a Richardson Ground Squirrel, otherwise known as a gopher.
Last year, he predicted six more weeks of winter.
