Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Baker Lake (May 29/02) - Fred Penner took a page from one of his own songs to make a special appearance in Baker Lake earlier this month.

In fact, this musical cat and famous children's entertainer has been helping a number of Kivalliq communities celebrate during the past year.

Penner also turned up in Rankin Inlet in September 2001 to help celebrate that community's Jammin' on the Bay music festival.

The Baker visit featured an afternoon community performance at the arena and a special show at the elementary school.

Kale Swinwood-Sky, 4, Derek Itkilik, 10, and Paula Piryuaq, 11, are typical of the many kids who turned out in Baker to see Penner.

Kale says he was pretty impressed with Penner's show, even though he wasn't entirely positive who the entertainer was before going to see him perform.

"My sister, Megan, likes his song, 'The Cat Came Back' the best, but I like 'The Ghost' even better than that," says Kale. "I play it off the CD at home once in awhile, but I thought his (Penner) show was pretty funny."

Itkilik says he also really enjoyed the show and would recommend seeing Penner to all his friends.

"My favourite part of the show was when he (Penner) sang, The Cat Came Back," says Itkilik.

"It was really good because he had this big, orange cat come out when he was singing the song."

Piryuaq says she knew all about Fred Penner from her 24-year-old sister, who's still a big fan of the entertainer.

"I really liked the show, especially the song 'It Ain't Gonna' Rain No More,' because he sings so fast on that one," says Piryuaq.

"I'd like to see him again, but I get to listen to his music at home because my sister still plays it.

"She saw Fred Penner the last time he was in Baker Lake when she was about 11 or 12 years old.

"My sister's been a fan ever since."