V. Paul Zann – 91, Truro, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, in Truro.

I was born Vincent Paul Zaninovic in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, in 1932. My parents were Vincent Francis and Alice Eileen (Smith) Zann.  Zaninovic was the name of my ancestors from Yugoslavia (Croatia).  It was shortened to Zann to fit the handle of the broom from the family factory that was built in Sydney.

I leave behind my darling wife, Janice Rose (Marshall) Zann whom we shared 65 years of happy marriage; beloved daughters, Lenore Zann and Tamara Zann-Roland; adored and variously-talented grandchildren, Aidan Vincent and Lachlan Alexander Zann-Roland; admired son-in-law, Tim Roland. In Australia, I will be mourned by my close-knit and much-loved family of brothers, Brian, Noel, and sisters’ families. I was predeceased by my parents; sisters, Moira (Cassidy) and Cecily (Rochester); my beloved young granddaughter, Maia Zann-Roland.

I attended schools in Moruya, Dunedoo, Goulburn and Armidale. I earned a scholarship to train as a teacher at Balmain Teachers College in Sydney.  I taught in four Public Elementary Schools in Sydney, where I was always the Sports Master, coaching cricket, rugby, athletics, and boxing (!), and the Teachers' Union representative. I then trained teachers and patrol officers for Papua-New Guinea at The Australian School of Pacific Administration in Sydney.  I was a trophy-winning tennis player in Australia and Canada.

Together with Jan, and Lenore Elizabeth (eight years old), I immigrated to Canada in 1968. I was a Faculty of Education professor at the University of Saskatchewan in Regina (big Roughriders fan), prior to our small family moving to Truro in 1969, living in Bible Hill, Belmont, and finally Truro. Tamara Dione Evangeline was born in 1971. I became a professor and Program Chair at Nova Scotia Teachers College until retiring in 1993. I loved every minute of my time at the NSTC and had the pleasure to work with many incredible young teachers and beloved colleagues.

I loved storytelling (all true?) and was said to have a fine sense of humour, with most stories featuring my own misadventures that I always swore were completely accurate. I was a Truro Police Commissioner for a term, and a founding member of the Nova Women’s Prison’s Citizens’ Advisory Committee. I was appointed by Corrections Canada to many Boards of Investigation into serious incidents in Federal prisons.

I also enjoyed being an Extra in movies and TV productions. Among my illustrious roles were fisherman, Norwegian priest, dead man in a casket, and drunken convict in The Trailer Park Boys. A writer at heart I authored six books – poetry, drama, novel, humorous essays, and young readers’ novels about Australian animals.

A celebration of my adventurous life will be held at a future date. Thank you for the loving care I received from all staff at Colchester East Hants Health Centre. I have died a happy man thanks to my darling families in both Canada and Australia and grateful for the beautiful friends/mates I have around the world. Donations in my memory could be made to the IWK, Halifax (for my Maia).

Arrangements have been entrusted to Mattatall – Varner Funeral Home, 55 Young Street, Truro. Public messages of condolence may be sent to the family by viewing Paul’s obituary on-line and selecting "Send A Condolence" at: www.mattatallvarnerfh.com

"If the good times are all gone

Then I'm bound for moving on

I'll look for you if I'm ever back this way"

 - Four Strong Winds