Alberta’s ‘Balzac Billy’ predicts more winter for 2026
Posted February 2, 2026 8:52 am.
Last Updated February 2, 2026 11:52 am.
Alberta’s “Prairie Prognosticator” emerged from his burrow and popped on a pair of glasses, predicting six more weeks of winter on Monday.
On the 23rd year of the Groundhog Day occasion, the costumed Balzac Billy dug his way out of a dirt mound in front of a crowd at the Blue Grass Garden Centre in the Rocky View area at around 8:10 a.m, stretching and twisting his body before peering at the ground, showing disappointment at his revelation.
He was helped off the mound and then took some photos with event watchers, all with his thumb pointed down and sunglasses on.
Balzac Billy bucked the trend of other prognosticators in Canada, as Ontario’s Wiarton Willie and Fred la Marmotte, the famous groundhog in Quebec’s Gaspesie region, reportedly did not see their shadows.
He did, however, align with Punxsutawney Phil south of the border, who is said to have seen his shadow. The U.S. event at Gobbler’s Knob dates back over a century, and the festivities have grown since the 1993 movie “Groundhog Day.”
Balzac Billy predicted an early spring in 2025, more winter the year before, and an early spring in 2023.
Meanwhile, Nova Scotia’s Shubenacadie Sam, one of Canada’s most famous groundhogs, did not go ahead with her typical prediction event due to a forecast calling for another winter storm in the eastern province.
According to Groundhog-Day.com, the consensus after 67 predictions is essentially split, with a narrow 52 per cent predicting more winter for 2026. An early spring was the consensus in 2025, with 55 per cent agreeing.
With files from The Canadian Press
