A coroner searches for truth and justice with the help of his friends, while trying to hold his family together. (inspired by the headlines of Dr. Morton Shulman, chief coroner in Toronto) In the 1960s, Canadian TV underwent a shift led by "Wojeck" and "This Hour Has Seven Days." "Wojeck," influenced by Dr. Morton Shulman's work, explored safety standards through naturalistic filmmaking by Ronald Weyman and Grahame Woods. John Vernon's portrayal of Wojeck, a Polish Catholic confronting moral dilemmas, tackled societal issues like abortion and drug addiction. Guided by Weyman and David Peddie, the show bravely addressed topics like homosexuality and elderly neglect, gaining acclaim and international recognition.
"Wojeck," crafted by Phillip Hersch, found its inspiration in the impactful work of Dr. Morton Shulman, Toronto's chief coroner. Shulman's investigations into deaths due to institutional and industrial neglect, emphasizing the need for improved safety standards, influenced the series.
9 episodes
Joe Smith, a Cree from Moosonee, comes to the city in search of work and is driven to end his life in a jail cell. Steve Wojeck investigates and uncovers aspects of the alien society which led Joe to his death.
Runtime: 60 minAbout an outspoken old man, shunted aside by society.
Runtime: 60 minGale Fletcher, a pregnant and unwed patient of Wojeck's, is found to be suffering from a critical illness. Meanwhile, a dress designer seeks an illegal abortion without her husband's knowledge.
Runtime: 60 minWojeck continues his involvement with Gale Fletcher, a pregnant, unwed woman suffering from a critical illness, and is called to investigate the death of a doctor who was a suspect in an illegal abortion case.
Runtime: 60 minWojeck investigates the death of a young man suspected of brutally murdering an old woman. The youth was killed by a veteran police officer, and newspapers accuse the officer of police brutality. Wojeck's investigation incites unforeseen attention from some influential citizens.
Runtime: 60 minCoroner Steve Wojeck investigates the case of a young woman who died in childbirth. Negligence on the part of the hospital staff is suspected by Wojeck as he becomes acquainted with the woman's artist husband Gerry Coleman and his unusual Trotskyite neighbors, Gus and Bea Lefkowitz.
Runtime: 60 minInvestigating a woman's murder, Wojeck suspects her husband, and worries that the husband's landlady may be in danger.
Runtime: 60 minThe series broke norms, diving into bold and rarely explored societal themes. Led by executive producer Weyman and associate producer David Peddie, the show addressed abortion, homosexuality, auto and construction safety, drug addiction, and more, illustrating preventable deaths. This thematic exploration set it apart in TV drama.
10 episodes
In its second season, the series kicks off with a two-part drama focused on Auto Safety. Coroner Steve Wojeck challenges the ruling of a fatal accident attributed to drunk driving. His concern lies with the auto manufacturer's neglect in creating safer cars, prompting him to take action against this indifference.
Runtime: 60 minWojeck hits the headlines by demanding that the Prime Minister open a full-scale investigation of the Auto Industry.
Runtime: 60 minA young homosexual is arrested after a hotel killing. During the trial, the prosecutor, Bob Allenburry, (a respected family man and friend of Steve Wojeck) is blackmailed by Harry Richards, a friend of the accused, which jeopardizes Allenburry's career.
Runtime: 60 minSitting on the Fund Raising Committee for the City of Zion Hospital, coroner Steve Wojeck learns of an emergency admission of an Arab sailor who has a possible case of smallpox. This Arab admission to the Jewish hospital creates a controversial issue for the committee members. Bourgiba, the ship's captain, fights the health authorities when the sailor's ship is quarantined and the ship's owner offers a donation to the hospital in return for the sailor's release. Wojeck is prompted to investigate when he learns that there is a dead man aboard the ship.
Runtime: 60 minThis comic script juxtaposes the story of Madame Czerensky, a beautiful but aging woman who fears that someone is trying to kill her, with the story of a museum publicist with a mummy to bury and in need of a death certificate. Coroner Steve Wojeck discovers that the cause of the mummy's death and the source of Madame Czerensky's illness are the same: both used a mud pack from Egypt which contained arsenic; consequently both Madame Czerensky and the mummy suffered from their vanity.
Runtime: 60 min