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Balzac Billy

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Groundhog Day groundhog in Alberta, Canada

Balzac Billy is the "Prairie Prognosticator", a man-sized groundhog mascot who prognosticates weather on Groundhog Day. He lives in Balzac, Alberta, 8 km north of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

According to the legend of Groundhog Day, the groundhog's behavior is a way of forecasting the weather. If the groundhog sees his shadow, it will mean that winter is to continue for six more weeks.

The original groundhog created by Merle Osborne was replaced and the mascot was created by Calgary radio station CFAC program director Jim Kunkel in the late 1970s.

In 2019, Balzac Billy predicted an early spring.

In 2022 and 2024, Balzac Billy predicted six more weeks of winter.

References

  1. Griwkowsky, Catherine (2012-02-02). "Balzac Billy's legacy casts a long shadow". Edmonton Sun. Sun Media. Retrieved 2013-02-02.
  2. "Watch: Balzac Billy the groundhog to forecast Alberta's spring". Red Deer Advocate. 2018-02-01. Retrieved 2019-10-29.
  3. Maclean, Rachel. "The wacky, wonderful and surprisingly accurate tradition of Balzac Billy". cbc.ca. CBC/Radio-Canada. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  4. "The groundhogs have spoken. Will Calgary see an early spring? | Globalnews.ca". globalnews.ca. 2019-02-02. Retrieved 2019-09-24.
  5. "The groundhogs have spoken. Will Calgary see an early spring? | Globalnews.ca". globalnews.ca. 2019-02-02. Retrieved 2019-09-24.
  6. Heintz, Lauryn. "Alberta's Balzac Billy predicts six more weeks of winter". calgary.citynews.ca. Rogers Media. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  7. "The Alberta 'groundhog' Balzac Billy just predicted having a long winter". curiocity.com. Curiocity. Retrieved 2 February 2022.

External links

Groundhog Day
Groundhogs
Other marmots
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