Canadian rodent forecasters ready for Groundhog Day

Details
Category: Canada News
Published Tuesday, February 2, 2016
CTV News

Thousands across the country will be turning to four-legged forecasters with names like Wiarton Willie and Shubenacadie Sam today to learn if spring is just around the corner.

See Full Article

According to tradition, if the groundhog sees its shadow when it emerges from its burrow on Groundhog Day there will be six more weeks of winter. But this year's festivities have already been marred by the death of one prognosticating marmot.

Groundhog Day celebrations have been cancelled in Manitoba due to the death of Winnipeg Willow, who died last Friday at the Prairie Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre.

Wiarton, Ont., is holding a festival to celebrate 60th anniversary of predictions by the town's albino groundhog - Willie.

Nova Scotia's Shubenacadie Sam has the honour of making the first North American prediction of the day due to the province's time zone.

Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil, arguably the best-known weather predicting woodchuck, noted Winnipeg Willow's passing with his handlers saying they were surprised by news of the death of Phil's colleague.



Advertisements

Latest Canada & World News

  • Armenian premier steps down, manoeuvring for early election

    World News CTV News
    YEREVAN, Armenia -- Armenia's prime minister has stepped down, a political manoeuvre aimed at forcing an early election. Nikol Pashinian, who took office in May after spearheading weeks of protests that forced the resignation of his predecessor, has pushed for an early parliamentary election this fall in a bid to unseat foes who maintain a majority. Source

  • No chance Congress will vote on USMCA this year, Mitch McConnell says

    World News CBC News
    The free trade deal between Canada, the United States and Mexico that leaders from all three countries agreed to in principle recently is a ways away from becoming law, as the man in charge of the U.S. Source

  • Haunted house actors suspended over simulated rapes

    World News CTV News
    AKRON, Ohio - Complaints from visitors about being pushed onto a mattress where actors simulated raping them at an "edgy" haunted house in northeast Ohio has led to the suspension of the actors involved. Akron Fright Fest owner Jeremy Caudill says he was "shocked and appalled" when he learned Monday what had happened over the weekend at his haunted house in Summit County's Springfield Township. Source

  • Transport Canada taking a 'fresh look' at issue of seatbelts on school buses

    Canada News CBC News
    Transport Canada will investigate whether seatbelts are necessary on school buses after a hidden report — recently made public — revealed buses failed the department's own safety tests. "I have instructed my department to take an in-depth look at the question of seatbelts in buses — a fresh look based on all of the evidence that has been collected since all the way back to 1984," said Transport Minister Marc Garneau in the House of Commons on Monday. Source

  • Small plane crash near Ottawa narrowly misses home, pilot in serious condition

    Canada News CTV News
    OTTAWA - A pilot is in serious condition with a head injury in hospital this morning after his plane crashed west of Ottawa during the morning rush hour. Emergency calls came in around 8:30 a.m. Source

  • Cancelling cap and trade will result in $3 billion is lost revenue: FAO

    Canada News CTV News
    TORONTO -- Ontario's fiscal watchdog says the Progressive Conservative government's decision to end the cap-and-trade system will result in the loss of $3 billion in revenue over the next four fiscal years. The Financial Accountability Office says in a report released today that the loss of revenue is greater than the savings achieved by cutting spending associated with the program, and will worsen Ontario's budget position. Source

  • Liberals move to end solitary confinement of federal prisoners

    Canada News CBC News
    The Liberal government is moving to end the use of solitary confinement of federal prisoners. Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale tabled legislation Tuesday to establish penitentiary units, called Structured Intervention Units (SIU), that will house inmates separately while still giving them access to rehabilitation, mental health care and other programs. Source

  • Idaho wildlife official resigns after killing baboon family

    World News CTV News
    BOISE, Idaho -- A top Idaho wildlife official has resigned amid outrage over a photo of him posing with a baboon family he killed in Africa. Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter said in a statement that he asked for and accepted Blake Fischer's resignation on Monday, three days after the Idaho Statesman newspaper published the first report about a photo of Fischer smiling with four dead baboons propped in front of him. Source

  • Brian Gallant, Blaine Higgs urged to form a grand coalition to govern New Brunswick

    Canada News CBC News
    An elder statesman of New Brunswick politics is pushing a bold idea to resolve the political standoff in the legislature: a coalition government between the Liberal and Progressive Conservative parties. Bud Bird, a former Fredericton mayor, PC provincial cabinet minister and MP, made the proposal in a letter to Liberal Premier Brian Gallant and Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgs. Source

  • As identical twins, we shared everything. Except my eating disorder

    Canada News CBC News
    I am a journalist, and I am an identical twin. Those identities usually co-exist peacefully, and my personal life rarely bleeds into the professional. But my unique experiences with my twin sister have led me to a story that I can't ignore. Source