Jaan Paju

Jaan Paju was born into an Estonian family in Toronto, Ontario on November 10 1955. He was the second of a family of four children. his parents Voldemar Paju and Agnes ( Hiiuväin ) had fled their native country. as World War 2 ended and the Soviet occupation commenced, living in Sweden before making a home in Canada.
Jaan spent his early life in Toronto’s east end, living at Logan and Danforth, attending Riverdale Collegiate, occasionally going to school , but thoroughly enjoying more football, basketball, euchre and designing and building sets for theatre productions.
He moved with his family to Don Mills as a teenager attending Don Mills Collegiate for the latter part of his high school education, before studying Landscape Architecture at the University of Toronto in the 1970's. Jaan greatly enjoyed the music of that era, which would continue to give him pleasure later in life. He enjoyed singing, as well as being an accomplished trumpet player.
He began working as a landscape architect after moving to Alberta. He was particularly proud of designing a park in the South American country of Uruguay and South America held a great fascination for him.
He loved to travel, with at 19, a six month visit to Europe where he bought a van with 6 others to tour through England, France and Spain. There was also a trip to North Africa, to Morocco, where Jaan got into some mischief, and fortunately for us, and him, he managed to get back to Europe. Jaan's travels would also take him on a cycling trip from Alberta to British Columbia and he also enjoyed trips through the Rocky Mountains and Maritime eastern Canada, with younger brother Tom.
Jaan's life was greatly enriched when he met his life partner, Kelly Coghlan. Throughout the more than 14 years together, they continued to travel visiting Peru, Equator and the Galápagos Islands, their favourite travel destination. They also shared successful individual dog management businesses which enabled both to satisfy their amazing love of animals. Jaan's dedication to his dogs would often see him travel long distances, often on public transit, just to ensure their wellbeing.
When his nieces, Siobhan, Roisin, and Cáitrióna, and his nephew, Sean, were children, Jaan was very involved in inspiring their learning and development, with very thoughtful Christmas gifts, and who can forget those Easter egg fights, and the annual Thanksgiving football game.
Jaan loved music. and had a huge record collection. He amazed his brother-in-law with his incredible knowledge of Irish music, with Horslips a life long favourite. Ry Cooder and Joni Mitchel also hold a special place for Jaan, so much so that many of his sister Maret's Joni Mitchell collection, seemed to end their way mysteriously, into Jaan's closet.
In later life Jaan's health challenges, saw him survive 14 hour surgery at St. Michael's Hospital in 2009, for a brain tumour. A brain tumour of a different nature would appear in 2022, this one inoperable.
Jaan's ex-wife and best friend Kelly and his sister Maret immediately accepted the call to action; Kelly moving into Jaan's home to help him and with the support of many family members provide for him a wonderful nine month period at home, where they could share many memories of childhood, and happy times together. This is supplemented by wonderful get togethers for Thanksgiving, his birthday, home for Christmas Eve and the Estonia Koor Christmas concert at the Latvian Centre.
Thanks largely to the tremendous, selfless efforts of Kelly and Maret, Jaan passed away at home, which was very important to him, on New Year's Eve 2022. He shall be greatly missed.
Jaan leaves his loving sister Maret, his brothers Robert and Tom, and his life best friend Kelly. He will be missed by his loving family; Sean (Anna), Siobhan, Roisin (Todd), Cáitrióna, and Paul; as well as his close cousins in Canada, the Lindau family and his many cousins abroad in Saaremaa, Estonia, Sweden, and England. Also greatly missed by Kelly's family who were a part of his life; Cheryl and her family and Karen.
Thank you to Jaan's Scarborough health care team: Dr. Cam, Cyndi, Rebecca, Patsy, Joaquin, Orin and many others.
Rest in peace Jaan. Until we meet again.