Lowell Green
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Lowell Green, the legendary voice of Ottawa radio and one of Canada’s most enduring broadcasters. Lowell died suddenly on Saturday, February 14, at the age of 89. His family has requested privacy during this difficult time.
Born on July 7, 1936, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to Canadian parents, Lowell was the son of H. Gordon Green, a noted author and editor with The Family Herald. Raised in Arthur, Ontario, he later studied at Macdonald Agricultural College of McGill University. Lowell’s remarkable broadcasting career began in Brantford and took him to Sudbury and Montreal before he joined CFRA in 1960 as a news and farm reporter. In 1966, he launched “Greenline,” a program that would become a defining voice in Canadian talk radio. By his retirement in 2016, he was North America’s longest-running open-line talk show host. Even after stepping away, he revived his program online, continuing to engage listeners until 2022.
A passionate advocate for community causes, Lowell championed efforts to preserve the Centennial Flame on Parliament Hill and played a key role in environmental activism that contributed to the creation of the Rideau River Conservation Authority. His Unity Rally ahead of the 1995 Quebec referendum drew more than 100,000 Canadians in a powerful demonstration of national solidarity.
Lowell co-founded Big Brothers (Ottawa chapter), helped establish the Help Santa Toy Parade, and supported major hospital renovations in Ottawa. He founded the Ottawa Sunday Herald, now the Ottawa Sun, and authored ten books. Honoured with the RTNDA Lifetime Achievement Award, Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Medals, and numerous community distinctions, Lowell Green will be remembered for his unwavering convictions, community leadership, and commitment to “common sense.” His voice may be silent, but his legacy across Ottawa and Canada endures.
