OTTAWA — Award-winning broadcaster Lowell Green died suddenly on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, at the age of 89, his family announced.
They described him as a man who promoted “common sense” and cultivated what listeners called his “island of sanity,” while asking for privacy as they grieve.
Born July 7, 1936, in Ann Arbor to Canadian parents, Green grew up in Arthur. His father, H. Gordon Green, was a noted columnist and editor at The Family Herald. Lowell studied at Macdonald Agricultural College of McGill University before launching a radio career that took him from Brantford to Sudbury and Montreal.
In 1960, he joined CFRA 580 AM as a news and farm reporter, launching his influential open-line talk show Greenline in 1966.
By the time he retired in January 2016, Green had become North America’s longest-running open-line talk show host.
He continued contributing to CFRA until 2019 and later brought the show online from 2021 to 2022.
Two of his historic broadcasts are preserved at Library and Archives Canada.
Green’s legacy extends far beyond radio. He used his platform to rally Canadians around civic causes.
In the 1960s, he organized a campaign asking listeners to send polluted water from the Rideau River to Queen’s Park, which helped form the Rideau River Conservation Authority.
He helped save the Centennial Flame on Parliament Hill, founded the Ottawa Sunday Herald (the predecessor to the Ottawa Sun), and coordinated a “Unity Rally” ahead of the 1995 Quebec referendum that drew more than 100,000 Canadians from outside the province.
Green also co-founded the Ottawa chapter of Big Brothers Ottawa and the Help Santa Toy Parade, campaigned for hospital renovations, and advocated for safer gun laws following a 1975 school shooting.
He authored ten books and received numerous awards, including the RTNDA Lifetime Achievement Award, Queen Elizabeth II Golden and Diamond Jubilee Medals, and multiple citations from Canadian prime ministers.
Tributes poured in following the announcement of his death. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre called Green “the voice of the common people of the Ottawa Valley,” praising his courage, common sense, and ability to mobilize audiences to demand change.
Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, a former CFRA colleague, said Green was “a groundbreaking talk show host and a proud Canadian” whose influence stretched far beyond the studio.
Despite being a known supporter of the Conservative Party, Green twice sought political office as a Liberal, running for federal and provincial nominations in 1968 and 1984.
His family highlighted his commitment to public service, civic engagement, and Canadian unity.
Green’s sudden passing marks the end of an era for Ottawa broadcasting. From his early days reporting in Brantford to decades at CFRA and beyond, he built a career that shaped public conversation, championed community causes, and inspired generations of listeners.
Funeral arrangements have not been released, with the family reiterating their request for privacy.
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