The Stories of Morley Torgov (1927-2026)

TJFF is saddened to learn of the passing of writer Morley Torgov, one of Canada’s best storytellers on Jewish life. We had the honour to collaborate with him on two screening series focusing on film and TV adaptions of his work. 

Morley Torgov brought stories of Jewish communities in small-town Ontario to life with humour, warmth and a critical eye, most notably, his award-winning memoir, A Good Place to Come From (1974) about growing up in Sault Ste. Marie.

A practicing lawyer since the mid-Fifties, Morley Torgov won the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour for A Good Place to Come From and The Outside Chance of Maximilian Glick (1982). In 2015, he was awarded the Order of Canada for his “contribution to Canadian humour.”

To honour Morley’s life and legacy, TJFF is sharing the series The Stories of Morley Torgov: Jewish Images From the Early Days of CBC. First screened as part the 2021 Toronto Jewish Film Festival, the series features two CBC television plays based on his stories as well as a recorded conversation with Morley Torgov; Lawrence Mirkin, Story Editor in the CBC TV Drama Department in the mid-70s; Robert Cohen, Director on the Executive Committee at Congregation Beth Jacob in Sault Ste. Marie.

The Stories of Morley Torgov: Jewish Images From the Early Days of CBC is available now on J-Flix to watch for free anywhere in Canada thru Thursday, August 13th.