The wacky, wonderful and surprisingly accurate tradition of Balzac Billy
Alberta's 'Prairie prognosticator' the only groundhog that uses his thumbs after checking for his shadow
Balzac Billy emerged from his burrow — a pile of dirt outside a garden centre just north of Calgary — to tell Albertans they could expect six more weeks of winter.
Known as the "Prairie Prognosticator," the groundhog signals a thumbs down if he sees his shadow, or a thumbs up for no shadow and an early spring.
This year, it was thumbs down.
With an accuracy rate of over 80 per cent, it's a skill that his "colleagues" around North America — such as Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil, Ontario's Wiarton Willie or Nova Scotia's Shubenacadie Sam — find impossible to match.
But then again Balzac Billy isn't exactly your typical groundhog.
First of all, he's more than six feet tall. It's a far cry from the furry critters hoisted up at other Feb. 2 events.
The story goes that Albertans didn't want to miss out on the Groundhog Day fun, so in the 1970s, they started to search for their own prognosticating gopher — with their efforts being broadcast over the radio.
"Back then it was out on the fields, just on the outskirts of Balzac there, and it was a real Richardson ground squirrel — or gopher."
The event then moved to the Balzac general store, before landing at the Bluegrass Garden Centre, complete with a pancake breakfast celebration. The costume came to be in 2004.
"It just became such a big event," said organizer Steve Neubauer.
"It's -11 C, it's dark, and people are out for a good time and a great breakfast — and of course to hear Balzac Billy's annual prediction."
83.6% accuracy rate
Alberta does have groundhogs, an alternative name for woodchucks. According to Alberta Parks, they live in the "boreal forest, parkland and foothill natural regions where woodlots are broken by pastures and meadows."
An Environment Canada study found Groundhog Day groundhogs are actually poor prognosticators — correctly anticipating the length of the season about 37 per cent of the time.
But that's not the case for Billy — he's predicted correctly for the last three years in a row.
"He hit the ball right out of the park last year, as it was one of the earliest springs we've had," said Neubauer, adding he's running at about 83.6 per cent accuracy since they started tracking results.
Next year will be his 40th anniversary.
"We believe in our Billy."
