Balzac Billy

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.