John Frederick Rowan was born in Regina, Saskatchewan in 1932. He came to Vancouver with his family at the end of the school year in 1948, and did everything he could to never touch prairie soil again. He served in the army in the early 1950s, and participated in the 1954 British Empire Games, not as an athlete but instead to ride his Harley Davidson in the opening parade. He was also in law school at the time, and graduated from the University of British Columbia with his LL.B. in 1955.
After graduation, Mr. Rowan moved with his family to Kamloops and there articled to Paddy Colthurst. After his call, jobs were hard to get and after a brief period with Reg Humphreys he returned to Vancouver. He took a position as a junior solicitor with Tysoe, Harper, Gilmore and Grey. It is said that the only people who ever complained about his bills to clients were his wife and the other lawyers in his firm. After 9 years he left Harper Gilmore Grey to work as a Vancouver City Prosecutor for Stewart McMorran. He quickly and skillfully transitioned from civil work to criminal prosecution and soon worked County Court trials alongside Eric Bendrodt. He left the City Prosecutors office in 1971, setting up his own practice in Gastown at the base of Alexander Street.
From this premises, and some years later a location further down Alexander Street, John Rowan's practice became a legal and social locale for a generation of Gastown lawyers. In private practice he continued to work prosecutions for the crown, as well as a variety of defence work, solicitor work, and commercial litigation. Perhaps his most famous case was prosecuting the cross-bow murder trail of R v Rouse and McInroy . Often fellow lawyers and Provincial Court judges would visit the office for afternoon tea. In 1986 Rowan was joined in practice by his son Mark.
In 1988 John Frederick Rowan was appointed to the County Court. At his swearing in the now Chief Justice of Canada Beverley McLachlin stated "John Rowan's reputation for integrity and competence, established over many years at the bar, auger well for a brilliant future on the bench." He remained on the bench in New Westminster until his retirement in 2001.
In his spare time, The Honourable John Frederick Rowan would relax with his wife Helen at their waterfront cabin on Camano Island in Washington state. He continued to relax there after his retirement, and enjoyed throwing parties with Helen at their townhouse condo in Gastown. He maintained his interest in law throughout his retirement, and his favorite days in 24-hour care at Hollyburn House were whenever he had a visitor come and talk about the law.
John Frederick Rowan passed away at his cabin on Camano in spring 2016. He is remembered as a great mentor and a true lawyer's lawyer.