Fred Penner Live! --Fundraising Concert

St. George’s United Church is hosting the one-and-only Fred Penner for a fundraising concert on Saturday, January 24 at 1pm.

Penner is a household name across North America as a family perfomer who has been recognized for his diverse accomplishments in the world of performing arts over the past 50 years, including two Juno awards and numerous nominations. He has released 13 Children’s Albums, appeared in countless energetically packed live shows for throngs of eager audiences across North America, composed the music for APTN/YTV’s Tipi Tales, and wrote the score and hosted the TV documentary The Simple Way.

Recognized as the first children’s entertainer to headline at the Los Angeles Amphitheater, Penner is this four-time recipient of the Parents’ Choice Award and the man Los Angeles Parent called the “Canadian Minister of Positivity.” As the host of “Fred Penner’s Place” on CBC TV for 12 seasons and more than 900 episodes—reaching more than 55 million American viewers where the show ran for four years on the Nickelodeon’s Nick Jr.-- Penner continues to get fan mail.

To Penner, his “job” is more than being a performer. He is a humanitarian who is always conscious of the “delicate balance required to create a positive influence that fosters healthy self-esteem in the life of a child.” As a result of his dedication to children, Penner has served as spokesperson for organizations like UNESCO, World Vision, UNICEF and the National Conference on Down Syndrome. In 2005, Fred journeyed to Zambia, Africa with World Vision to host a program for Child Sponsorship in the Western World.

A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales for this concert will be donated to the Comox Valley Child Development Association, the charity of choice by the musician. Tickets are available on Eventbrite individually ($20 each) or as a family pack (2 adults, up to 3 kids under 12) for $60. Youth (12-up) are $15. At-the-door tickets are $5 additional. Children 3 & under are free.

For those who prefer to purchase tickets locally, visit Laughing Oyster Bookstore in Courtenay.

This concert is one in a series-- Concerts for the Common Good-- created and hosted by St. George's United Church to benefit community non-profits.

The Reverend Ryan Slifka says, “We are so grateful that Fred has agreed to perform in the Comox Valley as part of our ongoing fundraising efforts to help local non-profits. I can’t wait to take my own kids to hear him, since I have such amazing memories of him from when I was a kid. This should be an epic performance!”

Through concerts like these and other fundraising events, St. George's United Church has donated more than $60,000 to area non-profits since 2023.

Located in the heart of downtown Courtenay at 505 6th Street, St. George’s United Church is a spiritually vibrant, inclusive, justice-seeking community of faith that has been changing lives in the Comox Valley for over a century. Its vision is to be a Christian Church that is a beacon of God’s love and hope in the

community, doing so through unconditional welcome, spiritual transformation, and reaching out in love for the common good.

St. George’s weekly Sunday service is at 10:30 am, followed by a coffee social in the fellowship hall.

Families with young children are very welcome. St. George’s has a diverse group of more than 30 young children who participate in the Children’s Church while their parents and grandparents remain in the main service. www.stgeorgesunited.com.