Otto Lowy, a highly esteemed and accomplished host of the CBC Radio's flagship program, "The Transcontinental", a weekly nationally broadcast sensation that has mesmerized audiences with its distinctive fusion of music, culture, and narrative, has been a constant and iconic figure on Canadian radio for an impressive four decades, since 1980, and has also solidified his reputation as a seasoned and revered stage performer, boasting a storied career that has traversed multiple mediums and genres.
Otto Frank, a native of Czechoslovakia, emerged from a Jewish family that had undergone a process of assimilation, a fleeting respite from the looming specter of war, a respite that ultimately proved to be illusory.
Otto Frank, the young boy whose life was forever changed by the tumultuous events of World War II, was miraculously spared from the clutches of fate when his mother, fueled by an unwavering sense of courage and a keen instinct for survival, made the courageous and unyielding decision to send him on a treacherous journey by train to the distant land of Holland.
This bold and daring move, one that would have been met with skepticism and trepidation by many, proved to be a lifesaving act of unparalleled bravery, as it so happened to occur just three days prior to the German invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1939, a turning point in the war that would have had devastating consequences for Otto and countless others had he remained in his homeland.
As fate would have it, Otto's mother's swift and decisive action not only ensured her son's safety but also set in motion a chain of events that would ultimately lead him to become one of the most prominent and influential figures of the Holocaust, a testament to the enduring power of courage, resilience, and the unbreakable human spirit.
Otto, having safely arrived in England, made a conscious decision to utilize his expertise and vitality in the service of his adopted homeland, devoting himself wholeheartedly to the war effort by taking on the crucial role of ground crew for the Czech Air Force squadron within the Royal Air Force, a pivotal contribution to the Allied forces during the tumultuous years of World War II.
Following the culmination of the prolonged conflict, Otto resolved to relocate to Canada, a nation renowned for its breathtaking natural splendor and a cultural landscape teeming with vibrancy. It was in this picturesque country that he would ultimately establish a life with his devoted wife, Barbara, amidst the energetic and cosmopolitan atmosphere of Vancouver, a metropolis celebrated for its awe-inspiring mountain vistas and a thriving arts community that pulsates with creative energy.
