Balzac Billy

{{Short description|Groundhog Day groundhog in Alberta, Canada}}

Balzac Billy is the "Prairie Prognosticator", a man-sized groundhog mascot who prognosticates weather on Groundhog Day.{{cite web|url=http://www.edmontonsun.com/2012/02/02/balzac-billys-legacy-casts-a-long-shadow-2|title=Balzac Billy's legacy casts a long shadow|last=Griwkowsky|first=Catherine|date=2012-02-02|work=Edmonton Sun|publisher=Sun Media|accessdate=2013-02-02}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.reddeeradvocate.com/news/balzac-billy-the-groundhog-to-forecast-albertas-spring/|title=Watch: Balzac Billy the groundhog to forecast Alberta's spring|date=2018-02-01|website=Red Deer Advocate|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-29}} He lives in Balzac, Alberta, 8 km north of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.{{cite web |last1=Maclean |first1=Rachel |title=The wacky, wonderful and surprisingly accurate tradition of Balzac Billy |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/balzac-billy-groundhog-day-2017-1.3963616 |website=cbc.ca |publisher=CBC/Radio-Canada |access-date=2 February 2022}}

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 " Balzac Billy ' groundhog was created by Calgary radio station CFAC program director Jim Kunkel in the late 1970s. Jim sat down with three of the CFAC radio announcers ( Paul Dunphy, Jimmy Hughes and Robin Ingram ) to come up with a Western Groundhog. After trying out a few names Jim Kunkel came up with " Balzac Billy " and the prairie prognosticator was born. Paul Dunphy produced and Jimmy Hughes voiced the first Balzac Billy " live on the scene " radio hits to be played back on the CFAC radio Ned Corrigall morning show ( two versions were produced, one for Balzac Billy seeing his shadow and one for a cloudy day). Since then, a mascot has been added ( because Southern Alberta doesn't have groundhogs ) and Balzac Billy is now a favourite prognosticator across the country on groundhog day. {{Cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4890634/groundhog-day-2019-calgary/|title=The groundhogs have spoken. Will Calgary see an early spring? {{!}} Globalnews.ca|date=2019-02-02|website=globalnews.ca|language=en|access-date=2019-09-24}}

In 2019 and 2025, Balzac Billy predicted an early spring.{{Cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4890634/groundhog-day-2019-calgary/|title=The groundhogs have spoken. Will Calgary see an early spring? {{!}} Globalnews.ca|date=2019-02-02|website=globalnews.ca|language=en|access-date=2019-09-24}}{{cite web |last1=Melgar |first1=Alejandro |title= Alberta’s groundhog ‘Balzac Billy’ predicts early spring |url=https://calgary.citynews.ca/2025/02/02/albertas-groundhog-balzac-billy-predicts-early-spring/ |website=calgary.citynews.ca |publisher=Rogers Media |access-date=2 February 2025}}

In 2022 and 2024,{{cite web |last1=Heintz |first1=Lauryn |title=Alberta's Balzac Billy predicts six more weeks of winter |url=https://calgary.citynews.ca/2024/02/02/balzac-billy-2024-prediction/ |website=calgary.citynews.ca |publisher=Rogers Media |access-date=2 February 2024}} Balzac Billy predicted six more weeks of winter.{{cite web |title=The Alberta 'groundhog' Balzac Billy just predicted having a long winter |url=https://curiocity.com/the-alberta-groundhog-balzac-billy-just-predicted-having-a-long-winter/ |website=curiocity.com |publisher=Curiocity |access-date=2 February 2022}}