Celebrating Annie Kidder: PFE’s Telling Tales Out of School 2025

Every year, People for Education’s Telling Tales Out of School brings together educators, policymakers, community leaders, and artists to celebrate the power of public education. This year’s gathering at OISE - the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education - was especially meaningful, as it marked the retirement of the incomparable Annie Kidder, co-founding Executive Director of PFE and one of the most influential voices in the education sector in Canada.

Three Decades of Leadership

For over thirty years, Annie has been a tireless champion for public education, insisting that strong, inclusive, and well-funded schools are the foundation of a healthy democracy. From co-founding PFE in the late 1990s to shaping national conversations around equity and access, her work profoundly changed how Canadians think about their schools.

On this special evening, Pedro Barata, President & CEO of Habitat for Humanity Canada, introduced a new honour: the Kidder-Pascal Award for Education Innovation and Systems Change. The award will recognize those who carry forward Annie’s legacy of re-imagining what education can be.

Where Conversations Begin

The evening opened in the OISE Library, with lively conversation quickly filling the stacks. Educators, students, advocates, and longtime supporters of PFE gathered over drinks and food, reconnecting with familiar faces and meeting new ones who share the same passion for public education.

Gathering at OISE, the very place where so many educators begin their journey, added meaning to an already charged night; it was a reminder that the story of public education isn’t written only in classrooms, but also in shared spaces where community comes together.

Before taking their seats in the auditorium, guests gathered around Annie for portraits at the event’s step-and-repeat. Among those in attendance was Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, who stopped by to congratulate her longtime friend. Smiles were broad and spirits high as guests shared their best wishes with Annie before the evening’s main event began.

Where Stories Come Alive

OISE Dean Erica Walker opened the program with welcome remarks, followed by legendary host Shelagh Rogers, who introduced a touching video tribute. From there, the evening flowed seamlessly between reflection and performance, beginning with Melanie Doane, who invited students from [NAME OF SCHOOL] to the stage for a heartwarming ukulele performance that set the tone.

THen, musical powerhouse Max Kerman, frontman of Arkells and author of Try Hard, stole the spotlight with a spontaneous, funny, and deeply personal performance piece, an ode to the public education system that helped him find his voice, and to the teachers who saw his potential long before he himself did.

Later, comedian and actor Andrew Phung (Kim’s Convenience, Run the Burbs) brought his signature warmth and quick wit to the stage. He joked about the question he’s heard countless times: “So you’re an Asian comedian… from Calgary?” While others wondered how he managed to carve his path, Andrew credited part of his success to the support he received… from people in the public education system!

For Annie, With Love

Tributes included heartfelt remarks from Annie’s daughters Molly and Katie, who shared, among other things, their hilarious Orphans Against People for Education pamphlet. Written at the very beginning of PFE, it was their playful protest as kids who felt their mom abandoned them in favour of her advocacy work. Years later, of course, they realized they might not have fully grasped the what or why of what Annie was busy building.

Former Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne reflected on how Annie’s had inspired her both as a parent and as a public servant. She closed her remarks by introducing the woman of the hour, Annie Kidder, prompting a long, heartfelt standing ovation.

Look What You Did: A Grand Finale with Jully Black

As the lights dimmed and the audience rose once more, Canadian music royalty Jully Black took the stage for a closing performance that was nothing short of electric. Her voice filled the hall with gratitude and resolve, an unforgettable finale to a night that celebrated not just one leader, but the whole room’s shared belief in education as a public good.

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You

For ED_PARA, it was an honour to capture Telling Tales Out of School 2025. The event underscored what Annie Kidder has spent three decades proving - and something we ourselves believe in -, that education is everyone’s story, and that telling those stories loudly can change the world, one student at a time.

So yes, like professional thank-ers Eric Peterson and [NAME OF COMEDIAN], we’re deeply grateful.

Wishing Annie Kidder the happiest of retirements. Don’t you worry, you’ve left People for Education in good hands!