Fred Penner

Best known for his long running television series "Fred Penner's Place" and hit song "The Cat Came Back," for decades musical icon Fred Penner has been using his engaging personality and public speaking skills to excite audiences like no other. He is a constant inspiration for his fans of all ages, but what is it that Fred really does for people? Why is Fred's message and music more important than ever? How did Fred go from a struggling musician to the North American sensation dubbed the "Canadian Minister of Positivity"? How did difficult moments from Fred's youth shape his life as a performer? Take this highly engaging journey to discover how Fred Penner connects with audiences and makes sense of the world.

Join iconic Canadian artists, activists, actors, and athletes as they share their stories of hope and inspiration in this national salute to our frontline workers and in support of Food Banks Canada’s COVID-19 relief efforts.

For over 40 years iconic children's performer Fred Penner has been using his engaging music and public speaking skills to help children make sense of the world. Best known for his long running television series “Fred Penner's Place” and hit song "The Cat Came Back", he still performs today only now it's often to children-of-all ages. Through interviews with Fred's family, friends and career collaborators we gain an unprecedented insight into Fred's key role in the growth of the children's performer movement that exploded during the early 1980s. We meet the adult followers of Fred Penner and discover how he has impacted their lives. And we go behind the scenes to spend time with the man himself.

550 artists were interviewed over ten years. At some point during those interviews, they were asked a question and told to answer with one word only. Some stuck to one, some said more, some answered quickly, some thought it through, and some didn't answer at all. That question… Lennon or McCartney?

Fred Penner and Al Simmons meet a train station and discover a wonderful world inside a photo booth.

Fred Penner and Al Simmons meet a train station and discover a wonderful world inside a photo booth.

The Kornstock comedy troupe sang song parodies, ad-libbed one-liners and transformed themselves into manic characters for appreciative audiences on TV, in night clubs and at fairs across North America from 1973 to 1976. This CBC National TV special was produced in 1976 about 5 months before their final performance.

This one-hour children's television special is the story of a young girl who slips into an enchanted world of trolls and dragons and finds herself on stage in a magic theatre during a performance by some of the biggest names in children's entertainment: Robert Munsch, Fred Penner and Rockapella.