Toronto 
Shubenacadie Sam/Shubenacadie Provincial Wild Park
Canadian weather forecasters vary widely, ranging from a puppet living in a cardboard box to the Vancouver Island marmot, showcasing a diverse array of shapes and sizes.
According to folklore, if the groundhog emerges from its burrow, and sees its shadow, winter will last for another six weeks. If it doesn’t see its shadow, we will have an early spring.
2023 Groundhog Day Predictions:
Canada’s groundhogs have agreed to disagree on weather predictions.
Nova Scotia’s Shubenacadie Sam predicted six more weeks of winter at the 8 a.m. event held at Shubenacadie park while Wiarton Willie predicted early spring for Ontario.
Six more weeks of winter in groundhog language means long winter.
Quebec’s Fred the marmot died yesterday. Hence, a child who was given a stuffed marmot during the ceremony predicted late winter. Alberta’s Balzac Billy predicted early spring, and so did the newest weather prognosticator, Okanagan Okie. Vernon Mayor Victor Cummings read the proclamation making it official.
Here are the predictions made by Canada’s “groundhogs” on February 2, 2023.
- Shubenacadie Sam – Nova Scotia: Six more weeks of winter
It’s Official! That’s a confirmed shadow! Get ready for 6 more weeks of winter, don’t put away your hat and mitts yet. #ShubieSam #GroundhogDay2023 #LongWinter pic.twitter.com/qKEFCTvOWT
— Shubenacadie Sam (@ShubenacadieSam) February 2, 2023
- Two Rivers Tunnel – Nova Scotia: Six more weeks of winter
- Lucy the Lobster — Nova Scotia — Six more weeks of winter
- Fred la Marmotte – Quebec: Six more weeks of winter
- Wiarton Willy – Ontario: Early spring
- Groundhog Harvey – Ontario: Six more weeks of winter
- Manitoba Merv – Manitoba: Six more weeks of winter
Manitoba Merv saw his shadow this morning. We have six more weeks of winter for Manitoba! pic.twitter.com/x07edw4zk1
— Oak Hammock Marsh (@OakHammockMarsh) February 2, 2023
- Balzac Billy – Alberta: Early spring
- Van Isle Violet – British Columbia: Six more weeks of winter
Okanagan Okie
- Okanagan Okie – British Columbia: Early spring
Whether you put your faith in these tiny weather predictors or not, spring is sure to follow, however long the winter is.
To learn more about each groundhog, see here.
What happened to the Gilford Gopher in Gilford, Ontario? (just south of Barrie)