Wiarton in Bruce County, is located on the Bruce Peninsula between Lake Huron and Georgian Bay . Wiarton sits squarely at the head of the long gash in the Niagara Escarpment known as Colpoys Bay. It is named after Wiarton Place in Maidstone, Kent, the birthplace of the Governor General of Canada during the 1850's when Wiarton was first settled. Wiarton was once a lumber town with seven mills located in the area. Today Wiarton is best known for its Wiarton Willie Festival . Wiarton Willie is a famous Canadian groundhog who lives in the community. Every February 2 , on Groundhog Day , Willie takes part in the local Wiarton Willie Festival . His role is to determine if there will be an early spring or not.
