There were smiles all around as a Canadian icon stopped into Sorrento Elementary School last week.
The childhood hero of many, Fred Penner, took some time out of his busy schedule to sing some of his favourite tunes with a gym full of students, teachers and even a few parents.
Penner is best known for his CBC show, Fred Penner’s Place, which ran from the 1980s until 1997, with reruns still captivating children years later.
He has spent a large portion of his life entertaining and educating children through the use of music, helping them grow and discover their own self confidence.
Penner himself was raised on music, explaining that he was introduced to a wide variety of sounds at a young age.
“Music has a therapeutic value,” Penner said, adding that there is no question music helps people in their daily lives.
Penner has travelled all over Canada, the U.S. and overseas performing shows for the young as well as the old, noting that some of his favourite performances are actually in front of university students.
Penner said he loves to see how even as adults his music still holds a special place in their hearts. His show was a big part of the lives of many ’80s and ’90s children, and as a result they still strongly connect with his performance many years later.
While Penner has been doing the job for many years, he said there is no way he is ready to stop.
“It is forever,” he said. “When I began I never thought that it would turn into something so big, but there is no way I can stop yet. I will keep going until I can no longer possibly do it.”