Mourning the loss of Wiarton Willie

The Town of South Bruce Peninsula
P.O. Box 310, 315 George Street
Wiarton, Ontario
N0H 2T0

July 11, 2006

A Life To Remember

The Town of South Bruce Peninsula is mourning the loss of one of its
most famous citizens. On July 11, 2006 on the advice of his physician,
Doctor Chuck Robbins, Wiarton Willie was taken off life supports and
passed away quietly in his sleep. Willie had been suffering from an
infection for the past month. Willie is known world wide for predicting
the coming of spring. Every February 2nd Willie would come out of his
burrow and in front of a crowd of fans and a gaggle of media
paparazzi, Willie would `talk' to the Mayor in groundhogese and
depending on whether or not he had seen his shadow, would tell the
Mayor if there would be six more weeks of winter or an early spring.

Willie has always been a source to delight to his fans. The children
love him. Each year thousands of people visit him at his home next to
the Library. Willie receives tonnes of fan mail annually. There have
been a number of books written about his life and of course his image
is cast in stone at Bluewater Park.

Willie is to be cremated and his ashes buried in a shrine located next
to his statue in Bluewater Park. A memorial service will be held at
Willie's shrine on July 17, 2006 at 1:00. Memorial contributions to the
Owen Sound Animal Shelter would be appreciated as expressions of
sympathy.

-30-

For more information:
Donna Elliott
519-534-1400 Ext 123